The Circus

Charles Chaplin’s last entirely silent film makes its debut at the Plaza Classic. In this adventure, Chaplin’s iconic Little Tramp character suddenly finds himself employed as a property man for a small traveling circus. Unexpectedly, the Little Tramp’s clumsy antics while trying to do his job make him a sensation in the middle of the circus show. He hopes his new success will please the pretty horse rider (Merna Kennedy). However, she loves the handsome young tightrope walker. This has all the slapstick and pathos that we expect and love from Chaplin’s films and was his nod to the artist who inspired his pratfalls. Re-released in 1969, it features a score written by Chaplin. — Jack Fields