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The Man Who Laughs

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7.3/10 • 205

1928-04-271h 50m

DramaRomanceHorror

THE BREAKING HEART BEHIND THE LAUGHING FACE.

Gwynplaine, son of Lord Clancharlie, has a permanent smile carved on his face by the King, in revenge for Gwynplaine's father's treachery. Gwynplaine is adopted by a travelling showman and becomes a popular idol. He falls in love with the blind Dea. The king dies, and his evil jester tries to destroy or corrupt Gwynplaine.

Directors
Paul Leni
Writters
Walter Anthony, May McLean, Marion Ward, Charles E. Whittaker
Editors
Edward L. Cahn

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Mary Philbin

    Mary Philbin

    Dea

  2. Conrad Veidt

    Conrad Veidt

    Gwynplaine / Lord Clancharlie

  3. Julius Molnar

    Julius Molnar

    Young Gwynplaine

  4. Olga Baclanova

    Olga Baclanova

    Duchess Josiana

  5. Brandon Hurst

    Brandon Hurst

    Barkilphedro

  6. Cesare Gravina

    Cesare Gravina

    Ursus

  7. Stuart Holmes

    Stuart Holmes

    Lord Dirry-Moir

  8. Sam De Grasse

    Sam De Grasse

    King James II

  9. Josephine Crowell

    Josephine Crowell

    Queen Anne

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Feb 10, 2024

7/10

When King James VII (& II) (Sam De Grasse) decides to take revenge on one of his treacherous nobles, he visits the most abhorrent of gifts on his young son. A grin. Cut into his face so that he may always be able to laugh at the thought of his father's betrayals! Pretty swiftly, that king is deposed and the youngster grows up to be "Gwynplaine" (Conrad Veidt). He, in turn, rescues the blind young "Dea" (Mary Philbin) and together they grow up with "Ursus" (Cesare Gravina) as their protector-cum-philosophiser! Besotted, the marked man hides his visage behind a dark cloak certain this his increasing love of "Dea" can never be reciprocated. All the while, Queen Anne (Josephine Crowell) now reigns and thanks to her manipulative jester "Barkilphedro" (Brandon Hurst) - who also worked for the former king, and his puppet-master the rather malevolent "Duchess Josiana" (Olga Baclanova) "Gwynplaine" is introduced to the Stuart court. That's a viper's nest of intrigues and game-playing, presided over by the shrewd and domineering monarch - and soon he becomes embroiled in a plot that could lead to his own destruction whilst he struggles to retain his own sense of decency and, of course, the affections of his love. It's a standard historical story of betrayal and retribution, this - but the photography and direction do really help it stand out. The initial scenes with the "iron lady" - a weapon of torture whose presence prevails throughout - are effective, and Weidt and his piercing eyes (well lit, too) focus the attention well as his character comes to terms with the wrongs done in the past and his options for the future. Some of the scenes are quite intimate and almost provocatively shot, and the settings generally are perfectly matched to the increasingly Machiavellian and sometimes quite amusing plotting that still leaves room for an unfolding love story that avoids sentimentality and delivers with grit and realism a dark depiction of early 17th century British politics.

Media

  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster
  • The Man Who Laughs poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
clownpsychotronicjester