Silent Film Gala—Charlie Chaplin’s THE CIRCUS

This is my 3rd year running to attend the yearly Silent Film Gala and I wouldn’t miss it for the world!  It is a lovely evening and a chance to see a silent film with an orchestra at UCLA’S Royce Hall. 


THE CIRCUS (1928)

According to the program notes, this film was made during a very difficult and tumultuous time during Chaplin’s life.  A storm had destoryed part of the set, his second wife was divorcing him and he was in trouble with the IRS.  The film took two years to make during which time he suffered a nervous breakdown.  Fortunately the strain doesn’t show on film and the comedy is excellent.  Charlie Chaplin as “The Tramp” wonders into a traveling circus and inadvertently becomes the main attraction.  He falls in love with a girl who is the abused daughter of the circus owner.  Naturally chaos and comedy ensue…but so does heartbreak.  In the end, Chaplin walks off into the sunset alone.  This is a beautiful film and the orchestra sounded magnificent!



Chaplin is the only comedian I can think of who makes me laugh AND cry.  When I first saw CITY LIGHTS I wept openly.  Every time I see THE KID I cry.  There is just something so touching and human and heart breaking behind Chaplin’s eyes.  Many people use the word genius rather freely, but Chaplin is one of the few people the word sincerely describes.



If you haven’t picked up the Chaplin boxed sets on DVD, you should really check them out!  Sure it is not the same as seeing it on a big screen with an orchestra and all, but it is still a great way to discover his work!

10 Comments:

1. Oh, SHNAAAHHHPS…

   I think The Circus is one of Chaplin’s best (I don’t even really consider Modern Times as one of Chaplin’s best, that’s on a list one of the BEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME)...

   The scene on the tightrope with the monkey, and the literal “running joke” of the donkey incessantly chasing Chaplin…so fuckin’ good.

   I saw this projected at the Telluride Film Festival in a series Peter Bogdonavich curated of movies from 1927 (hmmm, you say 1928 here…interesting). He made a VERY compelling point that 27 was the apex of cinema, because it was the last year of silents and the most advanced examples of visual storytelling…

   Shit, do I have to get the Chaplin boxset?

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