this feature stand alongside the gold rush and modern time a among chaplin best . if it lack the exoticism and technological sophistication of the other two and it have some marvelously funny set piece . chaplin and a the tramp and get mix up with a pickpocket while visit the circus . mistake by the police for the criminal and he run into the center of a clown act in the center ring and and without intend to and wow the audience in a way the clown never do . his next escape attempt lead him into a magician act in which he find himself and to wild applause and frantically try to stuff various small animal dove and duck and piglet back into top hat on a table but find himself swim in the little beast . there be a scene and last only a few minute and in which chaplin imitate a mechanical man that be about as funny a anything he do . the inevitable sentiment be damp down . there be a circus girl that chaplin fall for and but she be attract to a newcomer and a debonair tightrope walker . it doesn not interfere with the comedy . there no point in go on too long about the plot . it mostly a series of set piece . but the plot never mean too much in chaplin film from this period anyway . recommend without qualification .