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5.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Tightrope Tricks remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have seven minutes to kill and you’re feeling nostalgic, sure. It’s basically exactly what you expect from a 1940s cartoon, though it lacks the absolute peak timing of some of their later, more polished stuff. Kids will dig the slapstick, but if you’re looking for something with a bit more weight, maybe check out Camille instead for a totally different vibe.
The whole circus setting feels a bit cramped, honestly. It’s like the animators were trying to squeeze every single acrobatics joke into the smallest tent imaginable.
Tom’s face when he realizes he’s stuck on the high wire with Jerry is pure gold, though. That specific look of utter panic? It’s why we watch these.
The lion is just too mean. He doesn’t even have a good reason to be annoyed, he’s just sitting there being a jerk. It makes the ending feel a little bit more earned when they finally get him back.
Speaking of the ending—that elephant really came out of nowhere, didn't it? One minute we're watching a tightrope act, the next, the entire tent is becoming an indoor swimming pool. It’s the kind of logic that only makes sense in a cartoon.
Honestly, watching them float away at the end is just such a strange way to wrap it up. No cleanup, no apologies to the ringmaster, just drifting off into the distance. It’s funny how these shorts just end whenever the budget or the patience runs out. 🎪
It’s not my favorite, but it’s definitely not the worst. It’s just... fine. Sometimes that’s all you need on a Tuesday morning.