The Circus (1928)

Charlie's Tramp character finds himself at a circus where he promptly gets chased around by the police who think he is a pickpocket. Running into the big top, he is an accidental sensation with his hilarious efforts to elude the police. The owner immediately hires him, but discovers the Tramp cannot be funny on purpose, so he takes advantage of the situation by making the Tramp a janitor. Unaware of this exploitation, the Tramp falls for the owner's lovely acrobatic daughter, who is abused by her father. His chances seem good, until a dashing rival comes in and Charlie feels he has to compete with him.