The Devil’s Circus (1926) | Region-Free (Blu-Ray) | Starring Norma Shearer

Title: The Devil’s Circus (1926)

Genre: Drama, Silent Film

Plot Synopsis:
In 1913, Carl, recently released from prison after serving a sentence for theft, becomes disillusioned and turns away from faith, resuming a life of crime. His path crosses with Mary, a devout orphan, leading to a romantic involvement. Mary secures a position as a trapeze artist in a circus, where she becomes entangled with Lieberkind, a lion-tamer, and his jealous wife, Yonna. Yonna’s envy drives her to sabotage Mary’s act, resulting in a near-fatal accident. As war erupts, Carl and Mary are separated, only to reunite later, confronting the consequences of their past actions and seeking redemption together.

Cast and Crew:

• Director: Benjamin Christensen
• Writer: Benjamin Christensen
• Cast:
  • Norma Shearer as Mary
  • Charles Emmett Mack as Carl
  • Carmel Myers as Yonna
  • John Miljan as Lieberkind
  • Claire McDowell as Mrs. Peterson

IMDb Link:
The Devil’s Circus (1926)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. Marya E. Gates – ★★★½
   “It got a little too religious at the end, but damn that trapeze/lion sequence was amazing.”
2. sydney – ★★★★☆
   “The scene with the lions was so tense & in my opinion was the best scene in the movie- and I loved the bit where Norma’s character was selling dolls. I felt so bad for her. There were parts where I felt a bit lost in the plot but overall it was a good movie! Also, it reminded me a lot of ‘He Who Gets Slapped,’ which is a better movie tbh so if you want circus girl Norma Shearer watch that.”

Meta Description:
“The Devil’s Circus” (1926) is a silent drama directed by Benjamin Christensen, featuring Norma Shearer and Charles Emmett Mack. The film explores themes of love, jealousy, and redemption within a circus setting in the early 20th century.