The Circus is a
1928 film which finds
Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp character being chased by a policeman at a circus. The ringmaster thinks his antics are hysterical, and hires him, but finds that The Tramp can't be funny on purpose, so the ringmaster makes him a janitor who always happens to be in the ring when things start happening. It stars Chaplin,
Al Ernest Garcia[?],
Merna Kennedy[?],
Harry Crocker[?],
George Davis[?] and
Henry Bergman[?].
The movie was written by Chaplin and Joseph Plunkett[?] (prologue, uncredited) and directed by Chaplin.
It was nominated for Academy Award for Best Actor (Charlie Chaplin). In addition, the Academy awarded Chaplin a Special Award "For versatility and genius in acting, writing, directing and producing The Circus."