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The Circus

 The Circus
type
TVTItem
 The Circus
label
The Circus
 The Circus
page
thecircus
 The Circus
comment
Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_content_3'); })Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp, who, while running away from the police (who mistook him for a pickpocket) runs into a circus big top and is an (unintentional) comedy hit. The circus owner finds that Charlie can't be funny when they want him to be, so he gets a job as a janitor who "accidentally" winds up as part of the act every night.Charlie falls in love with the owner's daughter, Merna the circus rider, and determines to save her from her abusive father. She however only considers him a friend, and instead falls in love with Rex, the circus' tightrope walker. Charlie tries to impress her by also learning to walk the tightrope, but almost gets killed in the process.Eventually, Merna runs away from the Circus, so the Tramp convinces Rex to marry her to keep her safe. They then return to the circus, but Charlie stays behind, going back to being a tramp.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_content_2'); })Less well remembered than his previous effort, The Gold Rush, or his next features City Lights and Modern Times. Plagued with production difficulties both internal (a fire destroyed much of the set) and external (production took place during Chaplin's ugly, public divorce battle with Lita Grey, causing Chaplin to smuggle portions of the film out of Hollywood to prevent Grey's attorneys from seizing it.)Chaplin was awarded a special Academy Award, at the first-ever Academy Awards ceremony in 1929, for "versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus". He received this award explicitly in lieu of the film being eligible for any competitive awards. The film can be seen here.
 The Circus
fetched
2018-10-12T02:50:27Z
 The Circus
parsed
2020-06-25T17:21:15Z
 The Circus
processingComment
Dropped link to BananaPeel: Not a Feature - ITEM
 The Circus
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The Circus / int_112f8ee1
type
Look Behind You
 The Circus / int_112f8ee1
comment
Look Behind You: The Tramp uses this trick to distract the Circus Proprietor and the Property Man, so he could throw a pie up to Merna on the trapeze.
 The Circus / int_112f8ee1
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_112f8ee1
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_112f8ee1
 The Circus / int_15177ded
type
The Runaway
 The Circus / int_15177ded
comment
The Runaway: Merna runs away from the circus.
 The Circus / int_15177ded
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_15177ded
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_15177ded
 The Circus / int_15b2cab3
type
Tempting Fate
 The Circus / int_15b2cab3
comment
Tempting Fate:
 The Circus / int_15b2cab3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_15b2cab3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_15b2cab3
 The Circus / int_1c21e3fb
type
The Place
 The Circus / int_1c21e3fb
comment
The Place
 The Circus / int_1c21e3fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_1c21e3fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_1c21e3fb
 The Circus / int_1d2400e9
type
Green-Eyed Monster
 The Circus / int_1d2400e9
comment
Green-Eyed Monster: The Tramp, watching Merna and Rex flirting. Leads to his Indulgent Fantasy Segue.
 The Circus / int_1d2400e9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_1d2400e9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_1d2400e9
 The Circus / int_20b5cce7
type
"Do It Yourself" Theme Tune
 The Circus / int_20b5cce7
comment
"Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: "Swing, Little Girl", sung by Chaplin
 The Circus / int_20b5cce7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_20b5cce7
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1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_20b5cce7
 The Circus / int_256eaa53
type
Prophetic Fallacy
 The Circus / int_256eaa53
comment
Prophetic Fallacy: The Tramp overhears the fortune teller talk about a dark, handsome man and believes that to be him. Enter the tightrope walker Rex.
 The Circus / int_256eaa53
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_256eaa53
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_256eaa53
 The Circus / int_348e5217
type
LapPillow
 The Circus / int_348e5217
comment
Lap Pillow: After running away from the circus Merna cries into the Tramp's lap at the campfire.
 The Circus / int_348e5217
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_348e5217
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_348e5217
 The Circus / int_3667bfa1
type
Hastily Hidden MacGuffin
 The Circus / int_3667bfa1
comment
Hastily Hidden MacGuffin: A pickpocketer steals a wallet and a watch from a man in the crowd. Suddenly the victim turns around and charges the thief who then shoves the valuables unnoticed into the pocket of the Tramp behind him. Hilarity Ensues when the thief later goes after the Tramp to get his loot back.
 The Circus / int_3667bfa1
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_3667bfa1
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_3667bfa1
 The Circus / int_3cb1d38d
type
Bad Boss
 The Circus / int_3cb1d38d
comment
Bad Boss: The circus owner.
 The Circus / int_3cb1d38d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_3cb1d38d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_3cb1d38d
 The Circus / int_3ce9c9fa
type
FortuneTeller
 The Circus / int_3ce9c9fa
comment
Fortune Teller: A Gypsy fortune teller from the side show tells Merna her future.
 The Circus / int_3ce9c9fa
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_3ce9c9fa
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_3ce9c9fa
 The Circus / int_3e458831
type
Water Wake-up
 The Circus / int_3e458831
comment
Water Wake-up: Merna faints when seeing the Tramp stuck in a cage with a lion. He is able to revive her by pouring the lion's drinking water on her face.
 The Circus / int_3e458831
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_3e458831
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_3e458831
 The Circus / int_403b6f3
type
Fainting
 The Circus / int_403b6f3
comment
Fainting: Instead of helping the Tramp out of the lion cage, Merna faints and could only be revived with a Water Wake-up.
 The Circus / int_403b6f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_403b6f3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_403b6f3
 The Circus / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 The Circus / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: The Tramp frees the girl from her father, but loses her, and is left alone, leading him back to tramping again, but he gets over his funk with his usual aplomb and is on his way with his usual hopeful spirit intact.
 The Circus / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_40cc0c7e
 The Circus / int_41f26c58
type
Happy Dance
 The Circus / int_41f26c58
comment
Happy Dance: The Tramp does this after hearing the fortune teller talk about Merna ending up with a dark, handsome man.
 The Circus / int_41f26c58
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_41f26c58
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_41f26c58
 The Circus / int_44c59f9f
type
IJustWantMyBelovedToBeHappy
 The Circus / int_44c59f9f
comment
I Just Want My Beloved to Be Happy: This is why Charlie decides to convince Rex to marry Merna, even after she was willing to run away to join him in being homeless.
 The Circus / int_44c59f9f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_44c59f9f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_44c59f9f
 The Circus / int_4674f3b1
type
Mischief-Making Monkey
 The Circus / int_4674f3b1
comment
Mischief Making Monkey: Chaplin is plagued by monkeys while performing a high-wire routine.
 The Circus / int_4674f3b1
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_4674f3b1
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_4674f3b1
 The Circus / int_4aed206f
type
Exact Eavesdropping
 The Circus / int_4aed206f
comment
Exact Eavesdropping: First the Tramps overhears the Gypsy woman tell Merna her future. Then later he is back at the right time to overhear Merna telling the Gypsy woman about her Love at First Sight.
 The Circus / int_4aed206f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_4aed206f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_4aed206f
 The Circus / int_53fd0a77
type
Out of the Frying Pan
 The Circus / int_53fd0a77
comment
Out of the Frying Pan: The Tramp tries to escape the lion cage only to find himself faced by a tiger in the next cage.
 The Circus / int_53fd0a77
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_53fd0a77
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_53fd0a77
 The Circus / int_57fac831
type
Plot-Induced Stupidity
 The Circus / int_57fac831
comment
Plot-Induced Stupidity: Charlie was hilarious when he stumbled into the big top show, but he can't be funny on command. The circus master's solution is to have Charlie "accidentally" stumble into the act over and over again. Somehow Charlie does not figure out he is star of the show.
 The Circus / int_57fac831
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_57fac831
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_57fac831
 The Circus / int_5c2aea32
type
Hot Pursuit
 The Circus / int_5c2aea32
comment
Hot Pursuit: By a cop, through a Hall of Mirrors and into a circus tent.
 The Circus / int_5c2aea32
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_5c2aea32
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_5c2aea32
 The Circus / int_5d414804
type
Just Friends
 The Circus / int_5d414804
comment
Just Friends: Merna cares a lot for the Tramp but only as a friend, and never realizes what he feels for her.
 The Circus / int_5d414804
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_5d414804
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_5d414804
 The Circus / int_61b8f9e2
type
Bunny-Ears Lawyer
 The Circus / int_61b8f9e2
comment
Bunny-Ears Lawyer: The Tramp. The Circus Proprietor doesn't like him and considers him incompetent, but thanks to the crowd who love the Tramp, he is getting hired as The Funny Man.
 The Circus / int_61b8f9e2
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_61b8f9e2
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_61b8f9e2
 The Circus / int_7c5960bf
type
Hall of Mirrors
 The Circus / int_7c5960bf
comment
Hall of Mirrors: Possibly the Trope Maker.
 The Circus / int_7c5960bf
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_7c5960bf
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_7c5960bf
 The Circus / int_81706730
type
EmergencyImpersonation
 The Circus / int_81706730
comment
Emergency Impersonation: When Rex is missing, the director remembers the Tramp doing some tightrope walking and hires him for the act.
 The Circus / int_81706730
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_81706730
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_81706730
 The Circus / int_863fa679
type
What Happened to the Mouse?
 The Circus / int_863fa679
comment
What Happened to the Mouse?: Rex's absence on the day Charlie had to replace him was never explained.
 The Circus / int_863fa679
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_863fa679
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_863fa679
 The Circus / int_8765802e
type
Tightrope Walking
 The Circus / int_8765802e
comment
Tightrope Walking: Charlie is pressed into service as the tightrope walker after Rex the tightrope walker is MIA during a show.
 The Circus / int_8765802e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_8765802e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_8765802e
 The Circus / int_8b442f50
type
Did Not Get the Girl
 The Circus / int_8b442f50
comment
Did Not Get the Girl
 The Circus / int_8b442f50
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_8b442f50
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_8b442f50
 The Circus / int_9e727954
type
Indulgent Fantasy Segue
 The Circus / int_9e727954
comment
Indulgent Fantasy Segue: The Tramp imagines himself knocking his romantic rival on his butt. This is done with a then-innovative special effect showing the Tramp stepping out of his own body.
 The Circus / int_9e727954
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_9e727954
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_9e727954
 The Circus / int_a4f81481
type
Circus Episode
 The Circus / int_a4f81481
comment
Circus Episode: For Chaplin's films. This story has the Tramp run away to a circus.
 The Circus / int_a4f81481
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_a4f81481
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_a4f81481
 The Circus / int_a8dcb1d7
type
Love at First Sight
 The Circus / int_a8dcb1d7
comment
Love at First Sight: Merna and Rex.
 The Circus / int_a8dcb1d7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_a8dcb1d7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_a8dcb1d7
 The Circus / int_acecb17d
type
Chekhov's Skill
 The Circus / int_acecb17d
comment
Chekhov's Skill: The proprietor sees the Tramp practicing tightrope walking. This becomes plot-relevant later when Rex is gone missing and a replacement is needed.
 The Circus / int_acecb17d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_acecb17d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_acecb17d
 The Circus / int_aef5c283
type
Off-into-the-Distance Ending
 The Circus / int_aef5c283
comment
Off-into-the-Distance Ending: The film ends with the Tramp, who Did Not Get the Girl and is then left behind by the circus, walking away from a static camera after the last circus truck pulls away. The shot is accompanied by an Iris Out.
 The Circus / int_aef5c283
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_aef5c283
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_aef5c283
 The Circus / int_b070362d
type
Wicked Stepmother
 The Circus / int_b070362d
comment
Wicked Stepfather: The Circus Proprietor denies his step daughter meals for punishment and is shown hitting her several time.
 The Circus / int_b070362d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_b070362d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_b070362d
 The Circus / int_b11ac9f5
type
Abusive Parents
 The Circus / int_b11ac9f5
comment
Abusive Parents: Merna's father is quite cruel to her.
 The Circus / int_b11ac9f5
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_b11ac9f5
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_b11ac9f5
 The Circus / int_b1a7cd14
type
Tap on the Head
 The Circus / int_b1a7cd14
comment
Tap on the Head: In the Tramp's Indulgent Fantasy Segue, Rex goes out after a punch from the Tramp.
 The Circus / int_b1a7cd14
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_b1a7cd14
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_b1a7cd14
 The Circus / int_b2d3a774
type
Captain Morgan Pose
 The Circus / int_b2d3a774
comment
Captain Morgan Pose: Rex does this in his outfit in front of Merna. Later, the tramp does the same pose for Merna right before his Emergency Impersonation.
 The Circus / int_b2d3a774
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_b2d3a774
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_b2d3a774
 The Circus / int_b9918c48
type
Nobody Here but Us Statues
 The Circus / int_b9918c48
comment
Nobody Here but Us Statues: Chaplin and the other crook miming mechanically animated puppets on the boat.
 The Circus / int_b9918c48
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_b9918c48
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_b9918c48
 The Circus / int_ca87e3ec
type
No Name Given
 The Circus / int_ca87e3ec
comment
No Name Given: Except for Merna and her boyfriend Rex, no one has names.
 The Circus / int_ca87e3ec
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_ca87e3ec
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_ca87e3ec
 The Circus / int_cc5c18b6
type
Iris Out
 The Circus / int_cc5c18b6
comment
Iris Out: The movie ends with this effect as the Tramp walks away from the camera.
 The Circus / int_cc5c18b6
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_cc5c18b6
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_cc5c18b6
 The Circus / int_cf511248
type
All Part of the Show
 The Circus / int_cf511248
comment
All Part of the Show: The Tramp gets chased by the cops through the circus, to the delight of the crowd.
 The Circus / int_cf511248
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_cf511248
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_cf511248
 The Circus / int_d2c0e2ed
type
Schmuck Bait
 The Circus / int_d2c0e2ed
comment
Schmuck Bait: The Tramp is told not to touch the button on the magician's trick table. Guess what happens in the arena.
 The Circus / int_d2c0e2ed
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_d2c0e2ed
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_d2c0e2ed
 The Circus / int_d5b7a6e3
type
Denied Food as Punishment
 The Circus / int_d5b7a6e3
comment
Denied Food as Punishment: Merna, by her father.
 The Circus / int_d5b7a6e3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_d5b7a6e3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_d5b7a6e3
 The Circus / int_e9d5a39
type
Nice Kitty...
 The Circus / int_e9d5a39
comment
Nice Kitty...: Charlie in the lion cage.
 The Circus / int_e9d5a39
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_e9d5a39
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_e9d5a39
 The Circus / int_ec193131
type
Dish Dash
 The Circus / int_ec193131
comment
Dish Dash: One of the jokes involve the Tramp balancing a stack of plates.
 The Circus / int_ec193131
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_ec193131
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_ec193131
 The Circus / int_f19e8a55
type
Bad "Bad Acting"
 The Circus / int_f19e8a55
comment
Bad "Bad Acting": The Tramp can't be funny on command.
 The Circus / int_f19e8a55
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_f19e8a55
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_f19e8a55
 The Circus / int_f42f96fa
type
Would Hit a Girl
 The Circus / int_f42f96fa
comment
Would Hit a Girl: The evil stepfather does this to Merna more than once.
 The Circus / int_f42f96fa
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_f42f96fa
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_f42f96fa
 The Circus / int_f5d2b49a
type
Give Me Back My Wallet
 The Circus / int_f5d2b49a
comment
Give Me Back My Wallet: The pickpocketing in the opening scene.
 The Circus / int_f5d2b49a
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_f5d2b49a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_f5d2b49a
 The Circus / int_f9f2c33
type
RunningGag
 The Circus / int_f9f2c33
comment
Running Gag: The Berserk Button donkey going after the Tramp whenever he is in sight.
 The Circus / int_f9f2c33
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_f9f2c33
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_f9f2c33
 The Circus / int_faa71569
type
Romantic False Lead
 The Circus / int_faa71569
comment
Romantic False Lead: The Tramp for Merna and Rex.
 The Circus / int_faa71569
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_faa71569
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_faa71569
 The Circus / int_fd9763d3
type
Non-Ironic Clown
 The Circus / int_fd9763d3
comment
Non-Ironic Clown
 The Circus / int_fd9763d3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_fd9763d3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_fd9763d3
 The Circus / int_name
type
ItemName
 The Circus / int_name
comment
 The Circus / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Circus / int_name
featureConfidence
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 The Circus
hasFeature
The Circus / int_name
 The Circus / int_name
itemName
The Circus

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 TheCircus
sameAs
The Circus
 The Circus
hasFeature
All Part of the Show / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
And the Adventure Continues / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Circus Episode / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Denied Food as Punishment / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Exact Eavesdropping / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Hall of Mirrors / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Happy Dance / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Indulgent Fantasy Segue / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Iris Out / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
March / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Nice Kitty... / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Non-Ironic Clown / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Off-into-the-Distance Ending / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Out of the Frying Pan / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
The Place / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Tightrope Walking / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Water Wake-up / int_1b00ff8c
 The Circus
hasFeature
Wicked Stepmother / int_1b00ff8c