''Call of the Circus'' is a 1930

pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was an era in the Cinema of the United States, American film industry that occurred between the widespread adoption of sound in film in the late 1920s and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship gui ...

film written by Maxine Alton 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 as ...

. 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 a ...

. 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 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