British Film Archives - Jessica Ferguson

Do you remember the song, Look For A Star? The first stanza is below:

When life doesn’t seem worth the living
And you don’t really care who you are
When you feel there is no one beside you
Look for a star

If you can’t remember how it sounds, here’s the video:

I can’t think of this song without remembering an old movie I saw back in the 60s at the Arlyne Theater in my home town of Longview, Texas. I loved going to movies when I was a kid; today I don’t go much–I rent from Redbox and watch in the privacy of my own home so I can hide my eyes if I need to or mute if someone is throwing up, or just turn it off and quit watching. Back in the old days, I didn’t have those problems. I didn’t have to worry about four-letter words, graphic violence or barf.

But why in the world I went to see a British horror film called Circus of Horrors, I’ll never know. Circus of Horrors has haunted my memory. No exaggeration there.

In 1947 England, a plastic surgeon must beat a hasty retreat to France when one of his patients has ghastly problems with her surgery. Once there, he operates on a circus owner’s daughter, deformed by bombs from the war. Later he becomes the owner of the circus, and …

I’ve thought of it often and wondered if it was really as intriguing as I remember. So many times, my memory seems like nothing more than jumbled fiction in my head.

About a year ago, I ordered the DVD. I was determined to find out the truth and perhaps perform a little exorcism of the Circus. Joined by hubby and daughter, we watched. I don’t think they enjoyed it as much as I did. I was surprised at how much I remembered, and of course the song … that beautiful song seemed creepy, sinister.

I’m glad Circus of Horrors was just as fascinating in 2011 as it was in the 60s. Several Amazon reviewers (about my age, I guess) remarked how the story has haunted them all these years. The suspense is great, there isn’t any graphic violence as compared to today’s thrillers even though, I admit, it’s still a bit gruesome. I think what really bothered me was the lack of transition from scene to scene. You can’t blink or you’ll find yourself in another country and wonder how you got there.

I won’t be forgetting this story any time soon. It just won’t let go of me. The concept is too interesting and if you really, really think about it, it’s not too far-fetched from things going on in the cosmetic surgery world today. (We can always tell when a star’s doc made a boo-boo, can’t we?)

One reviewer stated the movie is without a doubt one of the finest British horror films ever made, and while I’m not a real horror buff and can’t agree with any certainty, I can say if you enjoy horror at all, you’ll like Circus of Horrors.