Australian
Screen

an NFSA website

Titles tagged with ‘circuses’

10 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year

Novel Method of Advertising Peace Bonds: The Lion and the Kangaroo newsreel – c1917

In this newsreel item of a Melbourne parade, advertisements for peace bonds feature on the lion and kangaroo cages belonging to the Colleano and Sole Brothers Circus.

Wirth’s Circus Film historical – c1925

Wirth’s Circus, one of Australia’s most well-known family circuses, toured the country extensively in the 1920s and embarked on world tours to England, South Africa and South-East Asia.

Orphan of the Wilderness feature film – 1936

Boxing contests between men and kangaroos, as shown in this film, were a frequent ‘attraction’ in travelling tent shows.

Colleano on Tightwire, Rehearses in Arena home movie – c1939

Con Colleano was the first performance artist to perfect the toe-to-toe forward somersault on a wire.

Colleano on Tightwire Rehearsing at Home home movie – c1939

This footage offers a unique behind-the-scenes look at one of Australia’s most accomplished circus performers from the early twentieth century.

The Circus Comes to Town documentary – c1943

The great circus families of the past had a huge impact but not after the arrival of the animal rights movement.

Behind the Big Top documentary – 1949

The Wirth Brothers Circus, one of Australia’s largest and most successful, survived another 15 years after this film was made.

The Last Circus? documentary – 1993

Produced in 1993, this rousing plea for the surivival of the circus offers an argument to counter the claims of animal liberationists that circus animals are cruelly treated.

Chinese Take Away documentary – 2002

An adaptation of a physical theatre show by performer Anna Yen, which explores stories about her family.

Fashionista – Donna-May Bolinger television program – 2004

Donna-May Bolinger, whose shoes were worn in Moulin Rouge!, has attempted to move beyond designing shoes, to incorporate feminist history in her work.