Charlie Chaplin - The Circus - Criterion Collection

Silent comedy written and directed by Charlie Chaplin, in which he also stars. As he flees from the police, the Tramp (Chaplin) stumbles into the middle of a circus performance and becomes a hit. He is hired by the ringmaster (Allan Garcia), who quickly realises that the Tramp can only be funny when he isn't trying to be.

As the Tramp begins to thrive in the circus, he finds himself falling in love with the ringmaster's step-daughter (Merna Kennedy), but she loves Rex (Harry Crocker), the tightrope walker. Broken-hearted and unable to entertain the crowds, the Tramp's future in the circus is threatened.