Charley at the Circus

Director: Otto Messmer
Release date: October, 1919
Stars: Charlie Chaplin
Rating: ★★
Review:

‘Charley at the Circus’ is an entry in Pat Sullivan’s Charlie Chaplin animated cartoon series.

As the title implies, the complete film takes place in a circus, and involves gags with Kewpie the Strong Woman, Mitzi the fat lady, a flea circus and a bearded lady, and Pauline the noseless goat. Notice the throwaway gag on the upcoming prohibition.

As with the other Charlie Chaplin shorts, the animation is crude and stiff, but at least this film profits from a running gag of a heavy guy chasing Charlie Chaplin. Nevertheless, there is no hint of greatness in this cartoon, and it’s clear that animator Otto Messmer still had to find his vibe.

‘Charley at the Circus’ is available on the Blu-Ray ‘Cartoon Roots: Otto Messmer’s Feline Follies’