Ian MacNaughton
Edward Ian Macnaughton (30 December 1925 – 10 December 2002) was a Scottish actor-turned-television producer and director, best known for his work with the "Monty Python" team. MacNaughton was director and producer for all but four of the forty five episodes of "Monty Python's Flying Circus" from 1969 to 1974, director of the group's first feature film "And Now for Something Completely Different" in 1971 and director of their two German episodes, "Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus" in 1971 and 1972. In 1973 the production team shared the BAFTA Award for Best Light Entertainment Programme for "Monty Python's Flying Circus".
Circus
Following World War I, circus films became popular. In 1924 "He Who Gets Slapped" was the first film released by MGM; in 1925 "Sally of the Sawdust" (remade 1930), "Variety", and "Vaudeville" were produced, followed by "The Devil's Circus" in 1926 and "The Circus" starring Charlie Chaplin, "Circus Rookies", "4 Devils"; and "Laugh Clown Laugh" in 1928. German film "Salto Mortale" about trapeze artists was released in 1931 and remade in the United States and released as "Trapeze" starring Burt Lancaster in 1956; in 1932 "Freaks" was released; "Charlie Chan at the Circus", "Circus" (USSR) and "The Three Maxiums" were released in 1936 and "At the Circus" starring the Marx Brothers and "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man" in 1939. Circus films continued to be popular during the Second World War; films from this era included "The Great Profile" starring John Barrymore (1940), the animated Disney film "Dumbo" (1941), "Road Show" (1941), "The Wagons Roll at Night" (1941) and "Captive Wild Woman" (1943).