''Call of the Circus'' is a 1930

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorshi ...

film written by

Maxine Alton Maxine Alton (born Belle Trompeter) was an American screenwriter, playwright, talent agent, and actress from Willis, Kansas. She was also credited as Maxie Alton early in her career. Biography Maxine was born in Willis, Kansas, to photographer ...

and directed by

Frank O'Connor Frank O'Connor (born Michael Francis O'Donovan; 17 September 1903 – 10 March 1966) was an Irish author and translator. He wrote poetry (original and translations from Irish), dramatic works, memoirs, journalistic columns and features on a ...

. The film stars Francis X. Bushman and

Ethel Clayton Ethel Clayton (November 8, 1882 – June 6, 1966) was an American actress of the silent film era. Early years Born in Champaign, Illinois, Clayton attended St. Elizabeth's school in Chicago. Career Clayton debuted on stage as a professional ...

. The film is noted as silent screen idol Bushman's first talkie.

Plot

A retired clown (Bushman) tells a young woman (Wyndham) about his life under the big top and his troubles with his wife (Ethel Clayton). He falls for the young girl after rescuing her from peril, but she falls in love with a young man (William C. Kirby). Eventually he realizes his love for his wife and son, and the three return to the circus.

Starring

* Francis X. Bushman as The Man *

as The Woman *

Joan Wyndham Joan Olivia Wyndham (11 October 1921, in East Knoyle, Wiltshire – 8 April 2007, in London) was a British writer and memoirist who rose to literary prominence late in life through the diaries she had kept more than 40 years earlier, which were a ...

as The Girl * William C. Kirby as The Boy * Dorothy Gay as Circus Performer * Sunburnt Jim Wilson as The Shadow

Production

Bushman signed a contract with Pickwick Pictures in July 1929. After the film's release, Bushman sued O'Connor and his production company for back wages, and won a full judgment of $2,500.{{Cite web, url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/385433347/?terms=%22call+of+the+circus%22+%22frank+o%27connor%22, title=29 May 1930, 28 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com, website=Newspapers.com, language=en, access-date=March 18, 2019

References

1930 films Circus films Films directed by Frank O'Connor