The Circus (1928)

One of my all time favorites.

Better Late Then Never

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

First of all, Chaplin was one of the greats. A great visionary of cinema and a genius on and off the camera. Comic timing, sensitive to life, understanding of the common man, Chaplin understood it all. The Circus, in Chaplin's genius and timing, is Chaplin's funniest film that he made. It's not his best, but it's his funniest, in my opinion. From beginning to end you will be laughing so hard you will cry. You will laugh so hard your belly will hurt. Chaplin brings all of his genius and tricks to this one and formulates his best comedy. Must see for all of Chaplin's genius and laughs.

(Flash Review)In this comedic story, Chaplin plays an unemployed wanderer who ends up as the fluke hit of a traveling circus. He is accidentally thrust into a live performance and messes up the show yet invigorates the crowd with laughter as he get chased around by the performers. The ringleader catches on to his ability to elicit laughter and offers him a job, which he is happy to take with the side benefit of working a romantic angle of a cute female performer. Will he be able to keep the audience's belly's giggling with laughter and will he strike gold with the lady? From what I had heard of this film, I expected bigger laughter. Most of it was cute and charming, clever and of course the climax was stellar but I have been much more impressed by Buster Keaton films. Chaplin was good at drawing out subtle character feelings and emotions for a physical comedy so kudos on that angle. Certainly worth a watch.

The Circus was the first silent film I ever watched. Before I watched it I thought I would fall asleep if there wasn't going to be any sound. Surprisingly, I was fully awake through the entire movie and actually ended up really enjoying it. I love how simple it was and with that it was easy for everyone to laugh through out the film. I love how exaggerated Charlie Chaplins acting was, since there is no sound or verbal jokes to make you laugh, you laugh at his facial expression, the way he walks and moves about. My two favorite scenes in the movie were when he is being chased in the fun house and when he hears that Merna is in love, and assumes its him she loves. I was surprised at how it ended but also pleased. I thought he was going to chase the train down so he would still have a job. Instead he walks away from it and moves on with his life.

When watching the circus I was really expecting to be bored. I was very surprised when I was able to watch and be interested at this film. Some parts even made me laugh and I found it shocking that after almost 100 years the jokes still worked today. I felt that the cut scenes with writing were a little unnecessary. The things being said to the audience were really short and simple and were already being conveyed by the actors. Also they were written like how I imagine a caveman would talk. The film would have been fine without them or with slightly more complicated text. That being said by the end I was enjoying the movie and saw how these films influenced people making films up to present day. P.S. Charlie Chaplin is very creepy looking.