USA/1928—directed by Charles Chaplin (90 min. total)

A special, out-of-competition Academy Award for “acting, writing, producing and directing” went to Charlie Chaplin in 1928 for his lovely and inventive comedy, The Circus. In the film, Charlie causes such chaos when he crashes a circus performance – with a cop in pursuit – that the audience explodes in laughter and the ringmaster hires him on the spot. But Chaplin’s Little Tramp character soon discovers for himself that old adage that “comedy is hard” when he enters the ring and is ordered to “be funny” – but can’t! This marvelous balance of hilarity and pathos includes Chaplin’s own musical score and a pre-credits song sung by an octogenarian Chaplin when the film was restored in 1970. Special extra attraction: Chaplin’s extraordinary 1918 short comedy, Sunnyside. New 35 mm prints!