MovieChat Forums > The Circus (1928) Discussion > Wide Shot Tight Rope Walk

Wide Shot Tight Rope Walk


The CUs are of course shot close to the ground.

But, that wide shot of Chaplin walking the tight rope, does anyone know how they shot that?

There's no net. If it's double exposure of the crowd in one shot and the high wire in another it's done flawlessly. But, it doesn't look like that.

I can't believe Chaplin would put himself in danger like that. If he fell...

I have a home theatre, so my screen is over 5' wide and high. It sure looks like Chaplin and not a stunt double.

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That wide shot you are talking about has had me wondering too. Back in the early days of his film career he did some dangerous stuff, but I find it hard to see him doing similar stuff at that point in his life when he was so famous.
But he may well have done the stunt, he may have had something for him to fall on just off camera as you only see the crowd, not the ground underneath him (from what I remember anyway).

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