Frolics at the Circus (1920)

Jan 16, 2017

Pat Sullivan Cartoons
Directed by: Otto Messmer

Cat Out of the Bag Alert!  This review contains some spoilers for this film!

Synopsis: Felix helps a circus owner get rid of a pesky mouse and find an elephant.

Cartoon Cat: At the beginning of this short film, one of the few early silent Felix the cat cartoons which are still known to exist, Felix is being petted by the circus owner outside of a tent.

Frolics at the Circus - Felix the Cat being petted by circus owner

Inside the tent a mouse is scaring an elephant, who ends up running through the fabric and off into the distance.

Frolics at the Circus - Felix the Cat and circus owner hearing commotion inside tent

The circus owner knows the mouse is behind it.  Felix offers to take care of the mouse but when he peeks inside the tent the mouse throws a bucket on his head.

Frolics at the Circus - a mouse throws a bucket at Felix the Cat

Felix chases the mouse around the top of the circus tent.

Frolics at the Circus - a mouse being chased on top of circus tent by Felix the Cat

Then Felix has the idea to turn a hose on the mouse, but instead the mouse turns the hose on him!

Frolics at the Circus - a mouse spraying Felix the Cat with water from a hose

The chase then moves to some telephone lines, which the mouse cuts, sending Felix crashing to the ground.

Frolics at the Circus - a mouse cuts the phone line Felix the Cat is standing upon

Felix then sets up a catapult of sorts and using a rock hurls the mouse into the mouth of a bird.

Frolics at the Circus - Felix the Cat catapults mouse into bird's mouth

Felix goes back to tell the circus owner that he has settled the mouse’s hash.  But the owner wants to know where his missing elephant is.

Frolics at the Circus - Felix the Cat brags to circus owner that he has settled the mouse's hash

Felix looks for the elephant and finally decides to squeak like a mouse, scaring the pachyderm from his hiding place inside a tree.  Felix returns to the circus triumphantly, carried by the elephant.

Frolics at the Circus - Felix the Cat brings elephant back to the circus

Final Mewsings: Cats are handy to have around!

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