Under the Big Top

'Under The Big Top' falls under the very, very small subgenre of movies that are not only about circuses, but about acrobats! Let's see, there's Trapeze, The Greatest Show On Earth, and now this movie! This is all about a girl named Penny, who literally grows up in the circus and becomes the BEST Trapeze artist in the WORLD! Actually, when we see the act, it's nothing special, but if the movie says they are, then they must be! Anyways, she is brought up by her aunt, a stage mother if there ever was one, who dictates everything about Penny's life. When she finds out Penny's fooling around with one of the other two male trapeze artists in the act, she is not at all happy, and hey, guess what? Neither is the other male trapeze artist, who had the hots for Penny herself! So there is some great sexual tension going on there, which is fun in a wild environment such as this. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't explore that any further, instead going towards the clichéd 'Will Penny make it in time to rescue her sick Aunt?' routine. But not before finding out the spurned trapeze artist developed an alcohol problem! So so much you could have done with this wild story, but it literally, and I'm sorry for this awful pun, falls on it's face.

Marjorie Main owns a nearly broke circus, a legacy of her husband that she's determined to keep going. When her newly orphaned niece burns down the place -- by accident -- Miss Main is ready to get her a beating...until she realizes that the insurance will allow her a second chance at the big time. By the time the niece has grown in Ann Nagel, the circus is a success, in no small part due to the fact that Miss Nagel does her trapeze act without a net and blindfolded. Miss Main guards her like a vicious hawk, and doesn't take kindly to Miss Nagel falling in love with her fellow trapeze artist, Grant Withers.

This Monogram picture was directed by Karl Brown, and as an old cameraman himself, he knew all the tricks of how to switch in a stunt performer for the actor without it showing; the trapeze work looks like the performers are doing some very dangerous stunts, and Miss Main has a good role.... and so does Miss Nagel. For Monogram it's a lavish production, and there's little that is wrong with it, that a few more minutes for better character exposition would have taken care of. Since the copy I saw ran six minutes less than the listed time, I like to think that it used that time well. Even without it, it's a very good movie.

Early in this film, a circus owner (Marjorie Main) is given custody of her sister's young daughter after the sister dies. Soon, the little brat burns down the circus and instead of beating the snot out of the kid, they celebrate because now they can make an insurance claim! I don't think insurance works that way and this seems like a rather dubious message to be passing on the the audience...but, after all, this is a rather dubious sort of film.

Years now pass following the fortuitous fire. Now the little brat has grown and is a star on the trapeze. I agree with another reviewer who hard a hard time accepting that she is, according to Main, "the world's greatest aerialist"! She was a lot better than me or my dog, but seemed far from the greatest. But, the actors in this film try their best to pull off the idea that she is terrific--as evidenced by the men who are smitten by her. What happens next is rather unexciting--as can be said of just about every circus film of the era. Dull writing, acting and action spell the recipe for a very sluggish film.

And, speaking of dull circus films, this genre has apparently died--thank goodness. Despite winning a totally undeserved Oscar, "The Greatest Show On Earth" was an amazingly dull film whose only advantage over "Under the Big Top" was a glossier look and bigger budget. "Circus World" was likewise very big and glossy--but even duller. About the only circus films that WERE worth seeing were films like "Circus of Fear" and "Berserk" because at least they were meant to be trashy horror films--not trashy and horrible films like the rest! By the way, this is yet another film with a supporting role for a black actor known as 'Snowflake'--a rather demeaning stage name for a man--more like a name you might expect for a trained animal. It's a sad sign of the times in which it was made. Other such ill-named black actors of the era included Farina, Buckwheat, Sleep 'n' Eat, and, of course, Steppin Fetchit. My how times have changed!

It is a Circus story and I will not summarize the plot and thus spoil your enjoyment ( I hate Spoilers). It would have been shown in the as a second feature and preceded the main feature. The director .Karl Brown started his movie career in 1914 working with the great D W Griffith. He become a superb cinematographer and his credits include many of the great films of the Silent Era. He can be seen in the TV series "Holluwood" that is devoted to the silent movie era. I was very impressed by his intelligence and generous good nature. Such men have have made the great heritage of Hollywood movies. Relax and enjoy : Under the Big Top " I only wish that today,s Hollywood would make more pleasant films like this one