The Circus

Killer Clowns

August 2020 •English

They were originally intended to make us smile, and for the most part they do.. But when they don't - It won't be a pretty sight. Let's discover the madness behind the mask. Let's dive headlong into the world of Killer Clowns.

Ultimate Enemies: Revealed

February 2022 •English

National Geographic filmmakers, Dereck and Beverly Joubert, explore how some animals are thrust together by the forces of nature-sometimes through a millennium of evolution or even last year’s drought. In the aftermath of strange elephant deaths, they piece together a visually stunning story that confirms their theory that lions were hunting elephants. Narrated by Jeremy Irons.

The Deonzo Brothers

August 1901 •English

The famous acrobats in the above title appear in a marvellous acrobatic act. There are three barrels arranged on the stage. The boys, blindfolded, stand on opposite sides of the stage, and jump from one barrel into the other until they both land in the same barrel at the same time. They then jump backwards onto the stage over the two barrels. One table is then mounted upon another and the center barrel is placed on top. The brothers still blindfolded jump one each into a barrel and from them to the first to the second table and from the second table into the barrel on top of the second table. They then jump backwards onto the stage. This is pronounced by show people to be the most marvellous acrobatic feat that has ever been introduced. (Edison Catalog)

Caicedo (with Pole)

July 1894 •English

King of the slack wire. His daring feats of balancing as he performs his thrilling feats in midair show that he is perfectly at home.

Silent Forests

February 2019 •English

This documentary takes audiences into the heart of Africa's Congo Basin to meet the men and women trying to save the forest elephant from extinction.

Soul of the Elephant

October 2015 •English

As the largest living terrestrial mammals, elephants are usually considered as survivors under even the most dire climatic conditions. But all too often, these majestic giants are killed illegally for their ivory tusks. So, every dead full-grown elephant, whose carcass or skeleton is found with the tusks still in it, is a symbol of paradise – an elephant allowed to die of natural causes instead of bullets, snares or poison.

Komisches Reck

November 1895 •German

Part of the Wintergartenprogramm.

Akrobatisches Potpourri

November 1895 •German

Eight circus performers known as the Grunato family perform their famous balancing act.

Bound by Flesh

October 2012 •English

Conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton were once the cream of the sideshow crop. Taught to sing and dance at an early age, the winsome duo ascended through the early 20th-century vaudeville circuit as a side attraction (working alongside Bob Hope and Charlie Chaplin as well as a memorable turn in the Tod Browning classic "Freaks") before a cascade of unscrupulous management and harsh mistreatment brought their careers (and lives) tumbling down. This engrossing glimpse into a bygone era is filled with fascinating interviews and rare archival footage.

The Secret Life of Elephants

January 2009 •English

Set against the backdrop of one of Africa's most stunning locations – the Samburu National Reserve in northern Kenya – this compelling series follows the remarkable stories of wild elephants. From the first faltering steps of Breeze, a new born, to the experiences of elderly matriarch Harmattan, this series explores behaviour and relationships revealing elephants to be caring and compassionate beings.

Neirud

June 2023 •Portuguese

Aunt Neirud was always present at family gatherings. Neirud was big, strong, and worked in the circus. Who was this woman so close to the family and about whom we know so little?

Cirkus Kludský

January 1967 •Czech

Voltige

February 1896 •French

Considered a remake of Lumière's La Voltige from 1895.

Luis Martinetti, Contortionist

January 1894 •

Luis Martinetti, a contortionist suspended from acrobatic flying rings, contorts himself for about thirty seconds. This is one of the first films made for Edison's kinetoscopes.

Jonas and the Backyard Circus

November 2015 •Portuguese

Jonas is 13 years old and his life's dream is to maintain the circus that he created in his backyard. While he faces this challenge, he will live the adventure of growing up.

An Apology to Elephants

April 2013 •English

Elephants are among the most majestic and intelligent creatures on Earth--but for hundreds of years, they have suffered at the hands of humans. Narrated by Lily Tomlin, this documentary short traces our long history with elephants and explores the many problems that arise when they are brought to live in captivity in zoos and circuses.

30 Years of National Geographic Specials

January 1995 •English

Celebrates 30 years of televised specials by The National Geographic Society.

Grazing the Sky

November 2013 •Spanish

Grazing the Sky is a compelling look at the lives of trapeze artists and other circus performers. The film was shot for over two years covering 11 countries, including the Americas, Europe and the Near East. It follows the nomadic lives of circus performers. The audience follows 10 protagonists as they try to reach perfection and meet their lofty goals. The documentary sheds light on the contemporary circus world, and focuses on performers who devote themselves to the greatest show on earth.

When Elephants Were Young

August 2016 •English

A young man and his young elephant street beg in gritty Bangkok amid the controversial elephant business that threatens their survival, until the opportunity comes to release the elephant to the wild.

Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale

June 2016 •English

The incredible, true-life story of a baby elephant born into a rescue camp in the wilderness of Botswana. When she's suddenly orphaned at one month of age, it's up to the men who look after her herd to save her life.