Circus (1936): Cast & Plot
Circus is a 1936 music comedy directed by Grigori Aleksandrov, starring Lyubov Orlova as Marion Dixon, Pavel Massalsky and James Lloydovich Patterson. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 34m (94 min)
- Director
- Grigori Aleksandrov
- Original language
-
Russian - Studio
- Mosfilm
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Circus About?
The premise of Circus without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
When an American circus performer discovers she is the mother of a mixed‑race child, a wave of racism erupts and she becomes the center of a public scandal. Seeking escape, she relocates to the USSR, where she ultimately finds love, happiness and a new sense of refuge.
Circus Themes & Keywords
· 26 tags- russian actor playing foreigner
- friend
- young
- blackmail
- soviet union
- dancer
- manager
- vaudeville
- trapeze
- reference to charlie chaplin
- child
- cannon
+14 more Show fewer
- parade
- train
- dog
- bicycle
- son
- letter
- elephant
- lion
- moscow russia
- captain
- animal trainer
- trapeze artist
- circus
- russia
Circus Cast & Characters
Lyubov Orlova leads the cast as Marion Dixon, with Pavel Massalsky as Franz von Kneishitz and James Lloydovich Patterson as Jimmy. Directed by Grigori Aleksandrov; 23 actors are credited in all.
- Director Grigori Aleksandrov
- Lyubov Orlova as Marion Dixon
- Pavel Massalsky as Franz von Kneishitz
- James Lloydovich Patterson as Jimmy
- Vladimir Volodin as Ludvig
Also Starring in Circus
· 19 more- Sergei Stolyarov Ivan Petrovich Martinov
- Yevgeniya Melnikova Rayechka
- Aleksandr Komissarov Shurik Skameykin
- Nikolai Orlov An Old Circus Actor
- Emmanuil Geller The Music Conductor
- Sergei Antimonov Shprekhshtalmejster (uncredited)
- Lev Ivanov The whistling hooligan (uncredited)
- Lev Sverdlin
- Aleksandra Panova
- Fyodor Kurikhin Captain Borneo
- Niki Otto Chaplin
- M. Tsybulsky Farmer
- Robert Ross
- B. Karlin Artist
- Alfonse Lutz Horseman
- Solomon Mikhoels
Show all 23 cast members Show fewer cast members
More from Grigori Aleksandrov
More films directed by Grigori Aleksandrov: Man of Music, Meeting on the Elbe, Spring and The Shining Path.
Circus Plot Summary
What happens in Circus from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Marion Dixon, a celebrated white American circus artist, is forced to flee for her life with her black baby to escape a lynch mob in a rural town. The fate of the baby’s father is left unstated, but it is heavily implied that he was killed. Dixon finds shelter with Franz von Kneishitz, a sinister German theatrical agent whose imposing mustache and commanding demeanor echo the era’s fascist rhetoric. Kneishitz exploits Dixon, coercing her into becoming his lover while using her fame to serve his own ambitions.
Full summary
The whole story of Circus, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Circus?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the infant son that Marion Dixon strives to protect throughout the film?
Circus Also Known As
4 alternative titles, including “El circ” and “Cirkus”.
- Also known as
-
- El circ
- Cirkus
- O Circo
- Cyrk
Seen Circus?
Movies Like Circus
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Circus World, The Circus and Circus in the Circus.
Circus FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Circus, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Circus?
Circus runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).
When was Circus released?
Circus was released on May 25, 1936.
Who directed Circus?
Circus was directed by Grigori Aleksandrov.
More films by Grigori Aleksandrov Who is in the cast of Circus?
Circus stars Lyubov Orlova as Marion Dixon, Pavel Massalsky as Franz von Kneishitz and James Lloydovich Patterson as Jimmy, among 23 credited actors.
Does Circus have a post-credit scene?
No. Circus has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Circus in?
The original language of Circus is Russian.
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