The Devil's Circus advertisement in The Film Daily (1926)
The Devil's Circus is a 1926 American silentdrama film directed by Danish director Benjamin Christensen, based upon his screenplay. The film stars Norma Shearer and Charles Emmett Mack. It was the first of seven films directed by Christensen in the United States, and one of only four of those films that have not been lost. The film involves a young female trapeze artist who is in love with a pickpocket.
As described in a film magazine review,[1] Mary, a young country woman, is befriended by Carl, a pickpocket. She obtains employment in a circus. Carl is arrested for robbery but promises Mary to go straight thereafter. Hugo, a lion-tamer who is infatuated with Mary, assaults her. Jealousy impels Yonna, Hugo's mistress, to tamper with the ropes while Mary is doing her trapeze act. She falls among the enraged lions and is crippled. War breaks out, and many circus men leave to serve in the military. When peace comes, Carl searches and finds Mary. He goes to kill Hugo, but, after discovering that he is blind, he relents. Carl and Mary face a happy future together.
From users of IMDb, the film has received a score of 6.8 out 10 from 62 votes.
Preservation status
Thought to have been lost,[2] a print of The Devil's Circus was rediscovered and has been preserved by the George Eastman Museum.[3] Funding for the film's restoration was provided by The Film Foundation.
References
^Pardy, George T. (April 10, 1926), "Pre-Release Review of Features: The Devil's Circus", Motion Picture News, 33 (15), New York City, New York: Motion Picture News, Inc.: 1616, retrieved April 17, 2023 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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