Good-Bye To The Circus (1964)

Blackheath, London & Southampton, Hampshire.
Item all about the circus. Chipperfield's Circus is leaving Britain for Africa.
Sequence showing group of young boys sneaking into the big top by scrambling underneath the canvas. Various shots of an evening's entertainment in the big top. It is a Royal Gala Performance sponsored by the Variety Club of Great Britain. According to the narrator it is the last time Chipperfield's Circus will hoist their big top as they are off to Africa. Performing elephant gingerly steps over the bodies of several women.
Footage of the big top being erected.
Billy Smart's Circus. Performers and animals parade around the ring. Polar bears are led into a circular cage. The bears are made to do all kinds of tricks. Tightrope walker crosses the tightrope with another man standing on his head on top of his head (if you see what I mean). Performing horses trot around the ring. Film intercut with shots of audience including enthralled children.
John Chipperfield is seen training a large horse. Elephant is made to do a handstand. Young woman tends to a camel. Animals are led past the camera to board a boat "The story of Noah's Ark brought up to date" says the narrator. John Chipperfield boards the boat holding a baby tiger in his arms. Captain gets to hold it too. Monkey waves a handkerchief and applauds. He is led onto the ship. Monkey is given a cigarette to smoke. Animals are seen on board ship. The chimp is seen dressed in a sailor's outfit helping to steer the boat.
Note: alternative spelling for search purposes - Chipperfields Circus and Billy Smarts Circus. Two reels of cuts exist.
FILM ID:303.08
A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT'S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES. www.britishpathe.tv/
FOR LICENSING ENQUIRIES VISIT www.britishpathe.com/
British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website. www.britishpathe.com/

[@Automedon2]

I saw those polar bears when Chipperfields came to South Africa - barely moving though their routine in the African heat.

[@Jazzinthedark84]

This is horrendous. I'm so glad we don't have animals in circuses anymore in the UK. I can't imagine what you must have to do to an elephant in order to get it to balance on its front legs on a raised platform. 🤮😭

[@user-mf5ue6rc5n]

The same as you got to be in rat race every morning going to work
Closed down in smelly old underground tunnels for a coin a day .

[@conhaquecafe9297]

6:30 my god... I am so, so very glad to know this circus is unmade.

[@James-kv6kb]

Silly people don't understand the cage they showed you is not the cage they live in permanently that is only for traveling. If you see a dog in a car it doesn't mean it lives there

[@stephenguppy7882]

I am so glad to see the back of animals in circuses. So cruel.

[@antonioiadevaia6808]

orsi polari e scimpanzé, questa non la sapevo.

[@pavementpounder7502]

Cruelty to children haha, how ironic, I guess not animals. But I do like the acrobatics etc.

[@billycrotty4102]

Different times but i know one thing i could bot think of anything worse than going to a circus today.
Who wants to watch clowns and acrobats ?
So boring, im not getting into an argument about the wrongs and rights but todays Circus isn't entertaining.

[@user-mf5ue6rc5n]

Lgbt is not too but they push it to our faces every day

[@James-kv6kb]

It is so sad that people think that electronic toys are much more important than going out and seeing a show . But how can any live entertainment survive with the internet brainwashing people to believe that everything that's not the internet shouldn't be around anymore, by supporting certain radical groups