The Lure of the Circus
Also known as Le roi du cirque in France; O Rei do Circo in Portugal; Cirkuskungen in Sweden
(1918-1919) United States of America
B&W : Serial / 18 chapters / 36 reels
Directed by J.P. McGowan
Cast: Eddie Polo [Eddie Somers], Eileen Sedgwick [Alicia Page], Molly Malone [Nan Harden (chapters 1-5)], Harry Carter [Edward Lawrence], Noble Johnson [Silent Andy], Frederick Starr [Steve Harden], Duke R. Lee [Richard Van Norman], Charles Hill Mailes [Malcolm Somers], James Gordon [Guy Brock], Andrew Waldron [‘Dynamite’ Dan], Fred Montague [Howard Mason], Sidney Dean (Sydney Deane) [Reynolds], Josie Sedgwick
The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated. / Produced by J.P. McGowan. Scenario by Hope Loring and William E. Wing. Presented by Carl Laemmle. / 18 chapters (two reels each): [1] “The Big Tent,” released 18 November 1918; [2] “The Giant’s Leap,” released 25 November 1918; [3] “Beaten Back,” released 2 December 1918; [4] “The Message on the Cuff,” released 9 December 1918; [5] “The Lip Reader,” released 16 December 1918; [6] “The Aerial Disaster,” released 23 December 1918; [7] “The Charge of the Elephant,” released 30 December 1918; [8] “The Human Ladder,” released 6 January 1919; [9] “The Flying Loop,” released 13 January 1919; [10] “A Shot for Life,” released 20 January 1919; [11] “The Dagger,” released 27 January 1919; [12] “A Strange Escape,” released 3 February 1919; [13] “A Plunge for Life,” released 10 February 1919; [14] “Flames,” released 17 February 1919; [15] “The Stolen Record,” released 24 February 1919; [16] “The Knockout,” released 3 March 1919; [17] “A Race with Time,” released 10 March 1919; [18] “The Last Trick,” released 17 March 1919. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The serial was also edited to feature film length and rereleased. A separate production from Universal’s two-reeler The Lure of the Circus (1917).
Drama: Adventure.
Survival status: Prints exist (of the feature version) [16mm reduction positives].
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Keywords: Circuses - Serials
Listing updated: 1 May 2020.
References: Edmonds-BigU p. 103; Lahue-Bound pp. 19, 24; Lahue-Continued pp. 188-189, 286 : Website-IMDb; Website-SerSq.
Home video: DVD.
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