Welcome to the first theme month of 2016! This time around, we’re going to be diving into a popular sub-genre of the silent era: the carnival/circus picture. And, yes, Lon Chaney will figure into the story at some point.
Carnivals and circuses have everything you could possibly want in a movie setting. They’re colorful, full of wild costumes, lots of excuses to show the leads in skimpy attire and they have a creepy vibe that can be played up or down as the story requires. The setting was extremely popular during the silent era, both as a backdrop for romance and as an excuse to explore the darker side of human nature.
We’ve already covered The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the most famous of all carnival films, as well as Sawdust and Salome (1914), an early Norma Talmadge vehicle, and Variety, a stylish German tale of jealousy and trapeze artists. Stay tuned for more reviews through the month!
Review #1: Christine of the Big Tops
Pauline Garon heads up this low budget circus flick, which was actually shot at a real circus.
Review #2: Polly of the Circus
Mae Marsh is a charming bareback rider who falls for a minister. I also review the sound remake with Marion Davies and Clark Gable.
Review #3: The Unknown
Lon Chaney gets very, very, very weird in this story of an armless knife thrower and the woman he loves, played by Joan Crawford.
Review #4: The Soul of the Beast
Madge Bellamy is a circus performer who escapes an abusive step-father by riding through Canada on her elephant.
Movies Silently 
Oh, oh…I wore tights the other day..I guess I am a wanton woman:) The circus always does bring out a whole bunch of emotions from joy to fear. Glad you will speak about Chaney who is one of my favourites
Yes, the wearing of tights will forever prevent you from marrying into one of the better families of New York. That’ll learn you. 😉
Oh man, sounds so cool. Being a fan of all Chaney’s “circus” pictures, I’m up for whatever ya got!
Yay! Yes, I have quite a variety assembled, from sweet to spooky