| The New Moscow Circus | ||
|---|---|---|
| This clip is not available for streaming at this time. Please contact WPA. | Tape Master: | 634 |
| Catalog #: | 448080 | |
| Clip Number: | 448080-1 | |
| Orginal Film: | PREMIERE 4451 | |
| Timecode: | ||
| Location: | USSR | |
| Year Shot: | ||
| Audio: | Yes | |
| Color: | Yes | |
| Headings: | ENTERTAINMENT/CIRCUS: Behind the Scenes | |
| Description: | "What is so unusual about the circus? Behind all the artistry, the bear acts and aerialists and clowns, behind the viewing area, we see a computer and other electronic machinery. This is the heart of the new circus building in Moscow. The acts enter on one of three different rings that are raised to viewing level by automatic jacks. The lighting is controlled by computer. We see the animals in their hotel and see the costume room. Some neighorhood children drop by; is it the circus life for them?" 01:00:00:- Opening montage, B&W archival footage of a Soviet circus : LS of tightrope walker under big tent; MS of piano player; LS's and MS's of enthusiastic audience; MS of a sword swallower and his acrobatic midget assistants; CU of barker making pitch; funny MS's of a clown shooting water out his eyes, smoke coming from his butt, bowing to the audience. 01:01:23:- Montage, color footage of modern Moscow circus: CU's of audience (adults and children) laughing, smiling, and applauding; MS's of clowns in main ring; MS's of acrobats at work; MS's of an adult bear tumbling and fumbling. MS's and CU's of dogs dressed in people clothes doing tricks (jumping through hoops, walking on hind legs, etc). MS's of two female acrobats performing with assistance of a mechanized cart. 01:04:52:- MS's of men working in a lighting booth, fading switchers on large boards and such (the role of technology in the circus). Cut to low angle tight LS's of four scantily clad acrobats (three male, one female) performing a delicate balancing act. Cut to two couples performing crazy ice skating routine (some extreme acrobatic spots here). LS's of "electronic brain" of circus, the mechanized heart of the big tents that controls the setting and flooring changes per act. More MS's of talented acrobats. 01:07:55:- CU of a rooster crowing. MS of dog trainer working with two small dogs, teaching them to use an old fashioned water pump. Great CU of a piglet with large floppy ears waddling to camera. Funny MS of an adult bear driving a motorcycle, cut to even funnier MS of the bear driving a convertible. INT MS's of horse training. MS of a woman giving a small gray dog a bath, using shampoo (good CU of wet dog). MS's of folks grooming horses. MS of several small furry dogs eating. Cut to LS's of horses performing routine (walking on hind legs, skipping rope, etc). 01:10:51:- Jugglers are fun. MS's and CU's of a very talented, very limber male juggler performing in big tent. 01:12:21:- Bears are more fun. MS of adult bear (accompanied by trainers) walking on hind legs from dressing room and to arena. MS's of several adult bears running through a rather humorous routine (funny shots of the bears tumbling, hitting on women, playing banjos and accordians, etc). 01:13:46:- Clowns know how to have fun. MS's of three clowns, well, clowning around. 01:14:32:- Trapeze artists are nuts. Low angle MS's of trapeze artists swinging from rafters. LS's of the act as well. Good CU's of people watching on. Cut to MS's of the three clowns returning to center ring to do a routine in which one of them enters a box and magically becomes a woman. Silly. | |
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