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.

adrian-43767 I am still of the time when parents would trot out Chaplin short reels and project them on a wall for kids to see the Tramp overcome the vagaries of life, and the mortal coil of poverty. In Mozambique, then a Portuguese colony, in 1972, there was a retrospective of Chaplin's work, and I chose to watch two movies, my favorite Chaplins ever since: THE CIRCUS and MODERN TIMES.THE CIRCUS obviates Chaplin's incredibly athletic abilities, and his ballet-like sense of the comic. The scene where he mimics a clockwork figure that keeps hitting one of Chaplin's pursuers and laughing as part of the mimicry, all to fool a watching policeman, is one of the most brilliant comedy pieces ever, and I shall always feel humbled by the genius that pervades that sequence. The Tramp is the ultimate survivor and he picks up his paycheck by tending to animals and engaging in circus acts, all rather mechanically, until he meets the female lead played by Merna Kennedy, and suddenly he finds a meaning to things, and develops the type of generosity toward a fellow human being that love alone can generate.In between, there are many wonderful moments to enjoy, as Chaplin's acting and directorial skills have seldom been more inspired. Unfortunately, the film ends all too soon but - its ending is one of the most truthful I have ever seen - and Chaplin's reaction perhaps the greatest closing shot ever.At the time of writing this review, THE CIRCUS is about to turn 90 years old, but its themes, views, and comic touches remain fresh, thought-provoking, and a pleasure to return to. Congratulations, the great Master!

m-meehan-28239 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.