We've watched a bunch of movies lately, some in the theatre, some at home on roku (amazon & netflix). I'll mention only the notable ones. First, Gone Girl -- can't believe I had not read the book (although it's been a long time since I've read anything like it). It was excellent, and I think a contender for best actress. Next, The Imitation Game -- it was interesting and I liked it, but I don't believe it will or should win any awards. Like all biopics, it served its own agenda, and had many inaccuracies. Plus, if I had realized the guy from Sherlock (a show I can't stand) was playing the lead...I would not have gone to see it (so I'm glad I didn't know).  Then, the very best of the bunch -- Boyhood. I had heard an interview with the star on NPR, and disliked the gimmick so expected to not like it, and almost vetoed seeing it, but it was awesome! I hope Patricia Arquette wins best supporting actress. Finally, It Happened One Night, a 1934 Clark Gable movie that was great. Romantic comedies are a genre that I dislike, but this movie was clearly the standard that others have copied ever since. And, during a scene where the main characters are riding on a bus, the passengers sing The Flying Trapeze. I immediately remembered the song - -could sing every word:

Once I was happy, but now I'm forlorn

Like an old coat that is tattered and torn

Left in this wide world to fret and to mourn

Betrayed by a girl in her teens.

Now this girl that I loved she was handsome

And I tried all I knew her to please

But I never could please her one-quarter as well

As the man on the flying trapeze!

Oh! He'd fly through the air with the greatest of ease

That daring young man on the flying trapeze

His movements were graceful

All girls he did please

And my love he has stolen away

And my love he has stolen away!

Afterwards, I was curious about the origins of the song (and the lyrics, as the bus passengers sang "his actions were graceful" rather than "his movements were graceful" so I googled it.  I learned that it  was published in 1867, and is about a real circus performer, Jules Leotard. Also there were several verses, and a few alternate versions (which explains the minor differences in wording). In the 1930s it resurfaced in popular culture and was used in some movies, including the one I saw.