Judge, 1928-01-28 · page 25 of 36
Judge — January 28, 1928 — page 25: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reviews Charlie Chaplin's film *The Circus*, praising it as "one of the funniest" and "the best one Chaplin ever made." The review highlights Chaplin's physical comedy—slapstick, custard pies, and pratfalls—balanced with moments of wistful pantomime that elevate the humor into "high fantasy." The cartoon below illustrates a circus performance where an audience member complains about being stepped on repeatedly, sarcastically suggesting the performers are deliberately antagonizing viewers ("there's no satisf yin' 'em"). This likely comments on audience behavior at live performances or how comedians manage difficult crowds. The "Movie Guide" sidebar lists other current films with brief, snappy reviews, a typical feature of *Judge* magazine's entertainment criticism during the silent film era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
JUDGE The Movie Guide (Teo-performance only shows) * (Gaiety)—A Chicago blonde shoots p aod droopa ber way out of jal. An (Astor)—Most of the boys liked “ ue Circus” is a tender, | “ story-book cireus run and man- fantastic, slap-stick movie, «Gente (Liberty) I you like Dowrisa | ved by story-book people. and one of the funniest I . ke The ‘villain is very, very bad, have ever seen, It is a pleasure verge i > bi ide Hy Cin to see a picture so carefully pro- | cian is the duced and scrupulously put to- wari Worth a sccood saddest fellow you can imagine. gether, and I think it is the best * Uncle Tom's Cobin'* (Central)—Mr. Lacmmle However, what is more impor- one Chaplin ever made. rg it wrung bus heart. Imagine what it did tant, tl ir actions in * e Cir The action moves swiftly and viterton)= Woe ate cus” are consistently funny. - * (Criterion)—War story of alr service ? . delicately; there is even a cus- | set fuel tam eonario The picture is made up of tard pie heaved during the pe ata hi sel about twelve sequences, and formance, and it is uproariously . ore oaees a while ; (Keith Albee)—Will Rogers ; i funny. At no time during the * be indicted as “old gags” they show is that feeling of light in- have been handled with such sanity dissipated by a false note; ” 2 : nicety by the erafty Chaplin that at times it swerves into rump- m1 to tare this ¢ even though you think you know thwacking slap-stick and at what is going to happen, he fools others it is hoisted into the thin the Chaney tradition. you just long enough to make air of high fantasy, but from the _ em, Woman and Son’. (iseet}—Heeallect ta 5 igh despite yourself. opening to the closing scene the “ rights"” Louis Wolbeim play | first two sections are en- wistful figure of the dignified : : eww. tirely pantomime, in’ the best little man scamperin; ‘ound the ie Chaplin conception. Pursued by p rg I Y A circus lot seems in perfect har- ‘ oe of the yea the police, he dashes into the mony with the atmosphere of a (Continued on page 31) any number of them can Nee “Now, what are they hissing for? I’ve stepped on your foot twice—gawd, there's no satisf yin? 'em!” comicbooks.com