Call of the Circus (1930)
Directed by Frank O'Connor
Share on
Synopsis by Sandra Brennan
In this melodrama, one of the earliest talkies, an unhappy clown retires from the circus and turns to horticulture. He is so fixated upon his flowers that he pays no attention to his wife, an ex-circus widow whose marriage to the clown was arranged. Though she did not choose the marriage, she has come to love the curmudgeonly clown. Unfortunately, he does not return her love. He takes out his frustrations upon her son. Eventually the son returns to the circus to escape his abusive step-dad. One night during a terrible storm, the old clown saves a young woman's life. She is very thankful for his action. The clown mistakes her gratitude for love. He leaves to go on a trip. Meanwhile, the clown's wife asks her son to return to keep the young woman away from her husband. He does such a good job, that the young couple are betrothed. The clown comes home and is devastated. In time he comes to see the error of his ways and tries to make up with his devoted wife.
Characteristics
Keywords
abuse, attack, carnival, clown, couple, flowers, generation-gap, guinea-pig, husband, love, love-conquers-all, marriage, rape, research, scheme, stabbing, stepson, storm, torment, trip, widow/widower, wife
/_derived_jpg_q90_310x470_m0/MerryWidow_Poster.jpg)
