The Circus

US (1928): Comedy/Silent

Charlie Chaplin's Tramp character finds himself at a circus where he is promptly gets chased around by the police who think he is a pickpocket. Running into the bigtop, he is an accidental sensation with his hilarious efforts to elude the police. The ringmaster/owner (Allan Garcia) immediately hires him, but discovers the Tramp cannot be funny on purpose, so he takes advantage of the situation by making the Tramp a janitor who just happens to always in the Bigtop at showtime. Unaware of this exploitation, the Tramp falls for the owner's lovely acrobatic step-daughter (Merna Kennedy), who is abused by her father. His chances seem good, until a dashing rival (Harry Crocker) comes in and Charlies feels he has to compete with him. (Kenneth Chisholm on the IMDb)

 Use this link to view a clip of tightrope-walking Charlie Chaplin being tormented by monkeys in The Circus on TCM.com.

2 nominations (withdrawn), 1 Special Award