This is a solid, entertaining drama from veteran director Erle C. Kenton. But the standout is a superb performance from 'Little Billy' Rhodes as the owner of a circus who is hopelessly in love with a 'normal-sized' woman and doesn't do anything about it. Rhodes brings out the despair and strength of this man who can be tough and demanding and tragic -- all within seconds in a scene. A great job in a good film. One wonders if Tod Browning saw this movie and maybe was inspired a little for his classic "FREAKS".
3 Reviews
An extremely rare and surprisingly moving film.
Ziggy544627 June 2007
The Sideshow (1928), which stars midget actor "Little Billy" Rhodes as a circus owner. Mostly forgotten today except for his part as the Barrister in The Wizard of Oz, Rhodes was a formidable actor who rarely got to play serious roles. In The Sideshow he's a revelation as the tough-as-nails circus owner who longs for the "normal" woman he knows can never love him. He's a grumpy business tycoon who lords it over his employees and outfoxes the competition; a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte decorates his wall. Viewers will discover whether his Waterloo comes in the form of a new hire, Marie Prevost, who may prefer his taller and more handsome assistant, Ralph Graves. With workmanlike direction by Erle C. Kenton, The Sideshow is more fascinating for its circus atmosphere than any dazzling cinema, but it's a major rediscovery nonetheless.
A series of accidents befall P.W. Melrose's circus
blakemf27 July 2002
Warning: Spoilers
***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.
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.
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