Review of The Circus (1928) by Michael H — 20 Jan 2011

Oh my God! This is the first Charlie Chaplin film I've ever seen, and I'll have to say now that I was absolutely delighted by what I saw!

This film is a slapstick comedy about The Tramp (Mr. Chaplin), and he finds himself on the scene of a travelling circus that is struggling to entertain people with its lame performances. After a run in with a pick pocket and the police, the Tramp accidentally entertains everybody.

Needless to say the ring master hires him, and he has the audience in stitches with his clumsiness. He also falls in love with the ring master's daughter (who is hot!).

We follow the tramp as everything unlikely that can happen to him does happen to him, like monkeys escaping, him getting chased by a disgruntled old mule and him getting locked in the lion cage.

This was a heart warming comedy with an intelligent, artistic side that would make this review too long if I were to break it down, but in the long run it was about the difficulties of comedy and the hilariousness of spontaneity.

It was an excellent break from the sex, violence, drugs, vulgarities and depressingness of the films I'm used to. And it also made me laugh (unlike a lot of old comedies /cough *Cary Grant*).

I give this 5 stars. Definitely recommended and I dunno why this is seen as a lesser work of Chaplin. I guess I'll have to watch some more of them then!