January 17th: THE CIRCUS (Charles Chaplin, 1928)
NOTE: This film will be projected in the high-definition Blu-ray format.
A tramp running from the police stumbles into a circus performance and gets a job with the troupe.
After the success of his 1925 film The Gold Rush, Charles Chaplin decided to explore material he had been considering since 1920, a circus-set story which would also serve as an homage to French comedian Max Linder.
The production would prove to be Chapin's most difficult, as he was going through a divorce with his young wife, mourning the death of his mother, investigated by the IRS for back taxes, theft of props, and his studio burning down. After suffering a nervous breakdown partway through filming, Chaplin took time off and further delays due to legal battles pushed its release back another year.
The film's most complicated gag featured Chaplin tightrope walking 40 ft in the air, which he had to do twice because of a scratched negative. He also acted inside a cage with lions. Because of an overabundance of material, Chaplin had to excise some brilliant gags during the editing process.
Starring alongside Chaplin was a friend of his wife's, Merna Kennedy, a professional dancer whose abilities allowed her to perform circus acts for the film. Returning collaborators included Henry Bergman, John Rand, and Al Ernest Garcia.
The Circus was released to positive reviews, and would go on to be the 7th-highest-grossing silent film in American history. For the first Academy Awards, Chaplin received nominations for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Actor, but by the time of the ceremony these were converted to a special award for his combined achievements on the film.
In the 1960s, Chaplin composed an original score for the film's re-release, as well as singing a new song for the credits at age 79.
Running time is 70 minutes.
A tramp running from the police stumbles into a circus performance and gets a job with the troupe.
After the success of his 1925 film The Gold Rush, Charles Chaplin decided to explore material he had been considering since 1920, a circus-set story which would also serve as an homage to French comedian Max Linder.
The production would prove to be Chapin's most difficult, as he was going through a divorce with his young wife, mourning the death of his mother, investigated by the IRS for back taxes, theft of props, and his studio burning down. After suffering a nervous breakdown partway through filming, Chaplin took time off and further delays due to legal battles pushed its release back another year.
The film's most complicated gag featured Chaplin tightrope walking 40 ft in the air, which he had to do twice because of a scratched negative. He also acted inside a cage with lions. Because of an overabundance of material, Chaplin had to excise some brilliant gags during the editing process.
Starring alongside Chaplin was a friend of his wife's, Merna Kennedy, a professional dancer whose abilities allowed her to perform circus acts for the film. Returning collaborators included Henry Bergman, John Rand, and Al Ernest Garcia.
The Circus was released to positive reviews, and would go on to be the 7th-highest-grossing silent film in American history. For the first Academy Awards, Chaplin received nominations for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, and Actor, but by the time of the ceremony these were converted to a special award for his combined achievements on the film.
In the 1960s, Chaplin composed an original score for the film's re-release, as well as singing a new song for the credits at age 79.
Running time is 70 minutes.
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