The Devil's Circus

The Devil's Circus
The Devil's Circus
	Lobby card
Directed by	Benjamin Christensen
Written by	Benjamin Christensen; H.H. Caldwell (titles); Katherine Hilliker (titles)
Starring	Norma Shearer; Charles Emmett Mack
Cinematography	Ben F. Reynolds
Edited by	Ben Lewis
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	February 15, 1926;
Running time	70 minutes
Country	United States
Language	Silent (English intertitles)

The Devil's Circus is a 1926 American silent drama 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.

The film's sets were designed by the art director James Basevi.

Plot

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.

Cast

Norma Shearer as Mary
Charles Emmett Mack as Carl
Carmel Myers as Yonna
John Miljan as Lieberkind
Claire McDowell as Mrs. Peterson
Joyce Coad as Little Anita
Margie Angus as Ring Entrance Helper at Accident Circus Act (uncredited)
Mary Angus as Ring Entrance Helper at Accident Circus Act (uncredited)
Charles Becker as Midget in Circus (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey as Spiro (uncredited)
Melva Cornell as Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
Karl Dane as Clown standing with Midget (uncredited)
Charles Murray as Circus Member (uncredited)
Mack Swain as Sultan in Circus Act (uncredited)

Reception

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.
^ "Museum of Modern Art press release/book review of Lost Films" (PDF). Museum of Modern Art. August 24, 1970. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
^ "Archival Film Prints Available From George Eastman House" (PDF). George Eastman House (eastmanhouse.org). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.

External links

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[1] 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.

[2] "Museum of Modern Art press release/book review of Lost Films" (PDF). Museum of Modern Art. August 24, 1970. Retrieved May 19, 2015.

[3] "Archival Film Prints Available From George Eastman House" (PDF). George Eastman House (eastmanhouse.org). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.

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