framptonhollis The Tramp stumbles into hilarious situation after hilarious situation once again in this nearly lost classic which faced an infamously troubled production. Of course, despite those production troubles, the end result is a film that is remarkably well made, with many entertaining and genuinely funny gags that have come to be among Chaplin's most iconic. From the cop chase in the mirror maze to the famous lion cage sequence to the climactic and tense tightrope scene, there are many big laughs piling atop one another throughout the film. Like many of Chaplin's greatest films, 'The Circus' also has a rather sweet and tender side to it. Few silent comedies function without a love interest, and 'The Circus' is no exception; however, it is well worth noting that I feel Chaplin really, in the end, does something unique and beautifully bittersweet with the love interest in this film. The way everything turns out is not exactly what I have come to expect, and it left an interesting impact on me, particularly in its final few shots that communicate an unspoken sadness that rises with a sense of hope for the future of The Tramp's charming excursions.

dallasryan 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.

Ian (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.

CriticalViewing Charlie Chaplin is a cinematic gem. Not only did he direct this film, but he physically put himself into it. Chaplin's character is always highly expressive throughout, as are his costars. We really do not need sound to appreciate this movie. I actually would argue that it would take away from this film's true inner meaning. The music aids in engaging the viewer, amplifying the emotive acting by all. The camera direction is also a key player in this with it's many, many jump cuts. The first 5 minutes of the film sets up the audience perfectly for the rhythm of the rest of the film. Even if Chaplin isn't moving very much (such as the scene where he pretends to be robotic for a minute within the first 3 minutes. So not a spoiler! Haha), even if the overall mood is depressive, the world of The Circus never loses it's overflowing emotion that seamlessly flows into the audience nor does it ever lose our eager eyes. We're hungry for more and more of this world, the verisimilitude striking as the implicit and explicit meaning correlate to life so very frequently. The choice between what is right and what we want/what would directly benefit us or bring us immediate joy. Which are not always the same thing. At least initially. This is well communicated without the use of words, the film speaks volumes on it's own. A+ Charlie Chaplin!!