Evengyny Thanks for the memories!

Executscan Expected more

Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Lidia Draper Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Irishchatter The reason i got to this film was because the Joker from Batman was inspired by Conrad Veidt's character in this film! By god, he did look so much like the Joker, he has the smile, make up, anything you can think so creepily. However Gwynplaine wasn't evil, he was more of a romantic and a sweetheart. Definitely, himself and Dea were a marvellous couple! At the same time, i had to give this a 6 because:1. When the characters were speaking, the textboard just said a sentence, it didn't pick up much of what they were saying to one another or even to themselves! I know this is 1920's we're talking about but, they should've got every line on what the characters had said! 2. It was too long for a silent film in my opinion. I think if they kept it to one hour and 28 minutes, it would've been sufficient!3.You could hear the background noises but you cant hear the voices of the characters?! It really doesn't make sense to me why they left the voices out when there was actually noise in this!I would call this an OK movie but it could've done a lot better tbh.................

Hitchcoc One of the things I noticed in viewing this was the tight editing. There is little wasted space. Many of the silent films are presented in jerky photographic moments, with the actors emoting and letting us figure out their motivations. This one begins with a sad event. A revolutionary pays the price of his life for not respecting James II. In addition to his execution, his little son is surgically altered to have a perpetual smile, to become the subject of ridicule, seeming to be laughing. The little boy is cast aside by the Gypsies that did this to him and on his journey finds a dead mother clutching a little baby girl. He seeks refuge in the home of a poet and this launches him on a career as a kind of freak actor. The little girl grows to be a beautiful woman, but she is blind. He feels great love for her, but is afraid that other women either hate him or pity him. He becomes a great celebrity, but is submerged in loneliness and depression, having to go in front of audiences each day to be a clown. Mixed into all this is the fact that he is heir to a great position and becomes a threat to the aristocracy and to the Queen. How this is all sorted out is utterly captivating. There is a little Les Miserables and a little Elephant Man in his portrayal. A truly remarkable film.

Johan Louwet Whenever there is someone needed to play the role of a mutilated or disfigured man I automatically think of the man of a 1000 faces Lon Chaney. But this time the title role is played by the German actor Conrad Veidt. I have seen Veidt in other great roles as Cesare in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and as Orlac in Orlac's Hands. That he would pull of a convincing Gwynplaine was in no doubt. He didn't disappoint and neither did Mary Philbin as the blind Dea. I already loved her in The Phantom of the Opera. She really is fitting for the role as fragile girl. But most kudos to Veidt, it must have been hard to have your face in a constant grin. Despite this permanent smile it was still possible to read Gwynplaine's real feelings, even when sad. I think only great silent stars as Veidt or Chaney could have pulled this of. That's why I love silent movies as the focus is so much on expression. The movie is filled with some exciting scenes just like the silent version of the Hunchback of Notre Dame with what seems a faithful setting of the England of the 17th century. The costumes seem to fit the time period. The story is gripping, tension until the very end even if it's a sentimental sweet ending I thought it was great. I also need to applaud Olga Baclanova for playing the licentious duchess and the dog who played Homo. I really loved the scene when Homo tries to lead Dea to her beloved Gwynplaine. And not to forget Brandon Hurst as Barkilphedro, wow he really has the face for playing such a mean character.

Bob Pr. I saw this as the main feature of the annual Oct. 30th presentation of "Silents in the Cathedral", a joint presentation of Grace (Episc.) Cathedral, our Public Library, & probably staff of the Kansas Silent Film Festival (presented annually in Feb.). Some of the below is from information presented before the show."The Man Who Laughs" is based on Victor Hugo's 1869 novel of the same name. Universal studio, having just lost their star, Lon Chaney ("Hunchback of Notre Dame", etc.) to MGM, imported the German director Paul Leni and star Conrad Veidt to compensate with this extravagant historical costume/action/horror/romance film. While it currently earns 8/10 stars on IMDb's rating and is considered very influential to film making, it wasn't particularly financially successful. It opened on the cusp of the talkies. Universal considered dubbing voices and re-releasing it but Veidt spoke little English plus the wire prosthesis Veidt wore to keep his face in such a hideous grin interfered with speech. (Veidt's facial appearance served as the model for "The Joker" in Batman comics, see the cover of the DVD.) The story takes place during James II's turbulent reign in England.A nobleman--opposed to this king's policies and actions--flees the country but is captured during his secret return attempting to find his young son, Gwynplaine.The king orders this nobleman killed for insubordination and, in addition, on the malicious advice of an associate, that his son's face be surgically altered to perpetually present a laughing appearance in re: his father's insubordination and death.The boy Gwynplaine becomes separated from his caretakers in a snow storm and, while seeking shelter, he finds a baby being held in her dead mother's arms. He rescues her, putting her under his jacket for protection from the cold, and he finds a house that offers them warmth and safety.The baby girl (Dea) is blind; she and Gwynplaine are raised by a philosopher, teacher, who eventually forms a traveling show that tours towns and fairs, presenting a play featuring Gwynplaine & Dea (played as an adult by Mary Philbin, who has grown to be very beautiful). Dea loves Gwynplaine and vice-versa but he is reluctant to marry her because, since she is blind, she can't know how terribly distorted his face is to everyone else.Dea argues against these fears saying that God has granted her blindness so she can see Gwynplaine as he truly is.In time, King James II is replaced by Queen Ann.A pretty duchess, strong-willed and somewhat disobedient to her Queen, lives in the property formerly owned by Gwynplaine's father and to which Gwynpaine, therefore, is the rightful heir.There are malicious, evil characters also involved with the queen and who continually try to hurt Gwynplaine. As punishment for the duchess's disobedience, they advise the Queen to order the duchess and Gwynplaine to marry (and banish Dea and her caretakers from England). The Queen does so and Dea is heartbroken.Gwynplaine rebels against this edict.He's ordered to be arrested but he resists and escapes; a prolonged exciting chase ensues.During this, the family dog--which has always been close to Dea and Gwynplaine--comes to the rescue and manages to achieve what we hope will be a far happier ending than the one ordered by the Queen. (These scenes also may well have served as the model for the later, "What, Lassie? Timmy's in the well and needs help?") And the film's ending IS happier! It's a heart-tugging, exciting, fun show.Several times, both at the conclusion as well as the section leading up to it, our audience erupted into loud clapping and whistling.It's very worth seeing; the whole cast is superb, especially Veidt who carries the film and very effectively conveys the sorrow he feels while bearing his perpetual wide grin. IMO although it's not quite as good as the superb "Sunrise, A Song of Two Humans"(1927), still it is a great, very touching, influential film.