By Greg Stacy

The Long Beach School for Adults presents this 1928 Charlie Chaplin comedy classic, featuring Chaplin’s Little Tramp character finding love under the circus big top. That the film is so effortlessly amusing is doubly impressive, considering the notoriously disastrous production: the set burned down, and a tricky scene where Chaplin walked on a tightrope 40 feet up had to be re-shot when the footage was lost. Chaplin was also going through a bitter divorce at the same time the IRS was after him for back taxes, and the stress eventually led to his suffering a nervous breakdown midway through the shoot. The film was such a painful memory for the director that he held back its re-release for 41 years . . . and jeez, do you blame him? Short films and cartoons are also on the bill.

Long Beach School for Adults Auditorium, 3701 E Willow St, Long Beach 90815. 562.997.8000×7198. Fri 7pm. $1 materials fee.

Tags: To Do