The Show

Leapin' lizards! If you're a fan of director Tod Browning's work, you'll probably like this film, though it's probably not his very best. There are several dark moments, some camp, and nice performances from John Gilbert, Lionel Barrymore, and Renée Adorée, who are involved in a love triangle. Gilbert is a carnival barker at a freak show, ladies' man, and general rake. Adorée is a performer who shimmies about 'exotically' in an act as Salome, one that is complete with a beheading. Barrymore is a crook who is with Adorée, and resents her continued attraction to Gilbert, who she once dated.

This almost felt like two movies to me, but there is a thread of deception, of putting on 'a show' that runs throughout. The first half has Gilbert conning people into thinking they're seeing all sorts of oddities, e.g. Arachnida, a 'spiderwoman', which is simply a woman's head emerging through a curtain into a costume of a spider and in the middle of a web. He also puts on the Salome act with Adorée, and Browning cleverly shows how the beheading trick is done. Gilbert is also putting on act with a country girl in town with her father to sell some sheep; he woos her but is only interested in her money. There is real darkness in the performances, particularly in the first half. Lionel Barrymore is a cold-blooded killer, casting some truly ominous looks, and I don't think I've ever seen John Gilbert as evil as the moment he almost beats Adorée for spoiling his plans.

The film loses a bit of its momentum in the second half, when Gilbert is on the run and hides out at Adorée's place. Once there he also has to hide out from her blind father, and in a touching moment, finds out that Adorée has been tricking the old man into believing his son is doing well and getting promotions by reading him fake letters, when in reality he's on death row at the prison across the street. There are many deceptions here, but it's only when Gilbert moments of authenticity that he's transformed. Just compare his reaction to hearing that his "butterball's" father has been murdered in the first part, to his reaction to Adorée's father dying in the second. There is a mirror here between the two halves, and even if it's a little clumsily executed, the message comes through.

Oh, and you have to love the camp in some of these old films. Attempting murder via poisonous lizard is yet another variation of an interesting trope from Browning and the period - see 'He Who Gets Slapped' (1924) and 'Where East is East' (1929). Those films are both probably a teeny bit better than this one, but it's entertaining enough to see.

Tod Browning, who directed many of the most bizarre films of the silent era, comes through again with this look at carnival performers. Cock Robin (John Gilbert) is the handsome barker and showman at a minor Budapest sideshow carnival. He's caught the eye of Salome (Renee Adoree), the dancing girl whose "dance of the seven veils" serves as the show highlight. The show magician, known as the Greek (Lionel Barrymore) is jealous and longs for Salome's affections, so he plots Robin's demise. Meanwhile, Salome cares for a blind old man (Edward Connelly) who longs for word from his missing soldier son. Also featuring Edna Tichenor as Arachnida the Human-Spider.

This presages Browning's 1932 masterpiece Freaks, but it lacks the real-life physical "oddities" of that film. In fact, this sideshow is all fake-outs, with sleight-of-hand and tricks of perspective standing in for deformities. Gilbert is different here than in the last few movies that I've seen him in, more unpredictable and even sadistic. The love triangle is full of perverse undertones, while the other lovely ladies of the sideshow are a highlight. The newly commissioned music used in the version I saw sounded like a Danny Elfman/Tim Burton score, which would please all involved, I think.

John Gilbert plays Cock Robin in this very archetypal Tod Browning melodrama. Robin is a showman whose act includes having his head chopped off and whose show includes a mermaid, a woman's head pinned on a spider web and the living hand of Cleopatra, which conveniently collects the tickets of the patrons.

Lionel Barrymore is an evil character named the Greek, who tries to pin a murder he commits out of greed, on Robin, who despite being innocent is a rough, energetic man who looks out for himself first. Robin's girl named Salome, well-played by Renee Adoree, is not quite the unsympathetic vamp he thinks her to be. She has a secret that will in the end lead him to a true purpose for his life.

This is really one of Browning's best films. His direction is inspired. The sets and design are meticulous and create a perfectly sinful world for the heroes to live in. He uses some surprising low and high camera angles and the cutting is fast-paced.

While the story is similar to most Browning-Chaney films of the period, this one comes off better. John Gilbert is excellent and proves an asset whereas if Chaney had played the part, he probably would have made it too much Chaney. Robin is a handsome, fiery man and Gilbert is perfect for the part.

This is one of only two MGM silents that Browning made without Chaney and it's a shame he didn't make more solo efforts. Not that their collaboration was not great, but this film seems to have freed up Browning just a bit more for him to be a little more creative in his own ways. Freaks may be the penultimate Browning film, but this one ranks right near the top of his catalog.

Turner Classic Movies presented this silent film on TV for the first time because their was a musical sound track added which made the silent film more interesting and enjoyable. John Gilbert,(Cock Robin),"The Captain Hates the Sea" is part of a Circus Show that presents a skit involving some magical tricks with a lady disappearing and being raised in the air. The gal in the film is Renee Adoree,(Salome),"All of the Flesh" who works in the circus act as a belly dancer and requests the head of a certain man on a platter which is quickly arranged in this skit for the circus audiences. Lionel Barrymore, (The Greek),"Dragon Seed" plays the evil guy with piercing eyes and sinister looks and money crazy. John Gilbert in real life had a torrid affair with Greta Garbo and was left at the alter which devastated John and his career went down hill and MGM made sure his career was over. John was the next Rudolph Valentino and was adored by all the young ladies during this period of time. Enjoyable film Classic with great veteran actors from the past. Enjoy

The film is about several thieves and murderers who travel with carnivals and prey on decent people--in this case, a man who brought his sheep to town to sell them and his overweight daughter. The man is shot and killed (by Lionel Barrymore) to get his money, though when it turns out his daughter has the money, another of these low-lives (John Gilber) tries to film-flam the money from her. While all a bit silly when you think about it, some of the tricks they tried to use to get the money were really cool. My favorite was when they re-staged the execution of John the Bapist (who, for some odd reason, they referred to him by some name I have never heard of before--NOT John). The fake chopping off the head and sticking it on a silver platter bit was really exciting to watch--BOTH times they staged it.

Back in 1927, I am sure this film was considered better than people today would assess it. Now I am not saying it's a bad film--it's pretty good. But, the melodramatic style of the film seems dated and the idea of evil "carnies" stealing and murdering was an accepted theme back in the 20s--but today it just seems kind of silly. But despite this and a very, very, very simplistic and moralistic plot, it is pretty good and a good film for silent movie buffs. But, overall, it's not one of John Gilbert's best films nor is it one that has especially lasting appeal.