User Reviews

Republic pictures is known as one of the best of the "B" studios, releasing dozens of films every year of practically every genre. When television came along, these films were packaged in edited versions which sadly are the only way they can be seen today unless they are the studio's best-known classics. Therefore, films like "Circus Girl" are released on DVD in their television edited version, and in the case of this film, it means that 10 minutes is missing.

Fortunately in this case, the film is actually good in its edited version, and doesn't feel choppy at all. It is a well-made circus drama about a young girl, June Travis, who marries veteran circus performer Donald Cook, stands by him when he is injured in an accident, but when she goes back to work, finds herself spending time alone with his rival, Robert Livingston. When Cook returns to work, he is instantly jealous of the friendship between the two and seeks revenge on them by putting together a very dangerous trapeze act. This leads to a very thrilling conclusion where you never know what is going to happen, showing Livingston trapped high up without a net above a lion cage.

The performances of Donald Cook and Betty Compson stand out in this above-average programmer. Compson plays the circus lion tamer, a blousy older woman who has been involved with Cook on the side for years and is instantly jealous of his attention to Clyde. When she finds out that they have married on New Year's Eve, she seems to be the one who will seek revenge, but instead, has a private conversation with Clyde's that reveals her true nature. A veteran silent actress who works well into the talkie era, Compson reminds me of Gladys George with her gin-soaked voice and earthy ways. Cook delivers a strong, conflicted performance that erupts when his jealousy takes over his sensibilities.

While the film opens on a somewhat cheap-looking level, the photographers and writers provide a look and a story that grabs the fewer from the very beginning and holds the attention through the end. At just over 50 minutes in its edited version, it tells enough of the backstory, character development and conflict to make the viewer quite interested in what will happen. The circus atmosphere never feels cheap or vulgar, and for the many poverty row films that had anything like this, this one has to be among the best.

A very interesting gem, this John H Auer film. I have never heard of it before. We could say it's a circus feature. One more. Of course, it's not as blazing as Cecil B De Mille's GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. But it's quite interesting anyway. A tale of jealousy, murder, treason and revenge among circus people, acrobats, to be more specific. I have seen some films of this kind, and I don't remember all the titles, sorry. One of these was directed by William Berke.

Back to this one, the story is well paced, efficient in the shooting, and the climax palpitating.

A very good gem. Forgotten gem. Such a shame.

....repent at leisure" that's the proverb starry eyed trapezist Kay Rogers will remember always. June Travis and Bob Livingston were a popular team for the budget Republic studios. This was one of their best features - Travis plays Kay, the "circus girl" who at the start marries controlling Charlie (Don Cook). He is not well liked among the circus folk although only Bob (Livingston) realises he is juggling Kay along with long time love Carlotta (Betty Compson), the lion tamer, who is determined to remain his only love. Bob calls him a "two timing egotistical heel" and following a fight, Bob fumbles his grip on the trapeze and Charlie finishes up in hospital, his high flying days over. It's clear it was an accident and everyone believes it but Charlie nurses a grudge and eagerly plots revenge.

It may be called "Circus Girl" and June Travis is very pretty but it is Don Cook's film all the way. His first role was as the upright, older brother in "The Public Enemy" and that's how his film career panned out - solid, dependable but with that flinty gaze that hinted he could turn nasty. Nasty he was in this one - putting on a "let bygones be bygones" face and coming up with a wow of an idea for a high wire act for Bob that will leave audiences spellbound. Bob's trapeze stunt will be performed above an open top lion cage and, unbeknownst to Bob, to make it even more thrilling, Charlie has cut the rope so it's a question of when and not if Bob will hurtle into the lion's den below!!

A few old timers in the cast - Charlie Murray and Betty Compson who never really stopped working from the time she hit stardom in "The Miracle Man"(1919).