blakemf Reviews

The Sideshow (1928)

A series of accidents befall P.W. Melrose's circus

[27 July 2002]

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** The story is about a circus owner, P.W. Melrose, a midget (played by "Little Billy" Rhodes) who refuses to sell his circus to a competitor. He falls for a lovely girl, "Queenie" Pat Parker, (Marie Provost), whose family trapeze act has broken up due to her father's illness and age. He offers her a job in the sideshow as the assistant to Ghandi (a fake Hindu) in his act. The act consists of placing Pat inside a wicker basket and driving large swords into it. In actuality, Pat is always lowered to safety by means of a manual elevator & then lifted back up at the end of the act. The sideshow manager, Ted Rogers (Ralph Graves), is also taken by Pat and their relationship slowly grows, unbeknownst to Melrose.

Several "accidents" happen to the circus and many of the workers want to quit and go to the competitor. Melrose manages to keep everyone together, when he gets a letter implicating Rogers is working for the competing circus and causing the accidents. Rogers and Pat prove to Melrose that he is innocent and Melrose learns that the real culprit is the fake Hindu, Ghandi.

During a sideshow performance, Ted fires Ghandi and takes over his act. Ghandi attempts to cause one more fatal accident by telling a circus roustabout, Bowen, that he has quit and to not bother working the elevator in his act. Just as Ted starts to drive the swords into the basket, Melrose sees there is no one operating the elevator. he rushes in and gets Pat out of harms way before a fatal accident. He tries to free her, but she refuses and wants the show to go on. Melrose learns from Bowen that it was Ghandi that was behind all the acts of sabotage and he was working for the competing circus.

(Spoiler Alert!)

Ghandi's tent is situated next to the Knife Thrower's platform. As part of his act, the Knife Thrower tosses huge axes at his assistant, who reclines against a wooden flat. Melrose walks by the flat and dislodges one of the braces, causing the flat to fall and exposing Ghandi's tent. Just as Melrose loosens the brace, the Knife Thrower lets go with one of the axes and it goes into Ghandi's tent, killing him.

Melrose sees Ted and Pat together and realizes they will be happy together. He tells them they are moving up to the main tent. Ted is grateful and says they will all be happy in the main tent. But Melrose replies no matter where he is in the circus, he'll always be part of the sideshow.

While the City Sleeps (1928)

Chaney plays a convincing police detective in an enjoyable drama

[8/10 · 30 January 2000]

Once again, Lon Chaney cast his makeup case aside and played a no-nonsense NY police detective, out to nail a murderer.

He's all business and Chaney LOOKS like an old-time detective. From the way he holds his gun to his wardrobe, it all looks like the real thing. And he even displays some great comedy touches in this film.

Look for the newly completed (April 1928) L.A. City Hall is a scene where Chaney goes over the rooftops. It is a crackerjack of a picture and Chaney is in top form!

Tell It to the Marines (1926)

One of Chaney's best performances -- PERIOD!

[30 January 2000]

This is one of Lon Chaney's finest performances. It also shows that MGM Production chief, Irving Thalberg, was not afraid to cast Chaney in a "no-makeup-role." Chaney gives a tough, yet endearing performance as the tough-but-loveable Marine sergeant.

It was MGM's second highest grossing picture (next to Garbo's "Flesh & the Devil"), earning over $6.1 million. But the Marines gave Chaney his highest praise for his role: he became the FIRST actor to be made an honorary member of the US Marine Corps.