The Circus Clown

A pretty aerialist doesn't know that THE CIRCUS CLOWN who's taken her drunken brother's place on the trapeze is actually the goofy animal keeper who loves her.

Comic Joe E. Brown is in his element in the fantasy world of the circus. Not only does he get to play two roles--father & son--he also performs difficult & dangerous stunts on the trapeze, proves himself most proficient on the trampoline and works with lions, elephants and one very large hippo. In addition, Brown acts as the target for a highly jealous knife thrower. In short, he has a marvelous time, and, with the help of good production values and a little touch of sweet sentiment, he brings the viewers along for the fun.

In a story wrinkle which strangely forecasts Brown's involvement in SOME LIKE IT HOT decades later, Joe suffers a rather bizarre but heartfelt infatuation for a female impersonator, played by Donald Dilloway. Patricia Ellis provides the more acceptable romantics as the fetching high flyer.

Movie mavens will recognize an unbilled Ward Bond as an unwisely opinionated spectator at the end of the film.