The Man Who Laughs

Watching German expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni's 1924 triptych Waxworks recently, I was struck by the film's visual flair, though disappointed by the uneven quality of the drama. No such disconnect plagues The Man Who Laughs, however, a 1928 adaptation (Leni's penultimate film; he would die the following year at the age of 44) of Victor Hugo's novel, featuring an amazing performance by Conrad Veidt in the title role. In what has to be one of the most bizarre hero-defining setups in cinematic history, the main character Gwynplaine (played by Veidt as an adult and Julius Molnar Jr. as a child), who is the son of a Scottish nobleman put to death by King James II, is turned over to gypsies called Comprachicos that surgically alter their victims' faces to create permanent grins suitable for generating peasant coin at circus freak shows (incidentally, this film would be the inspiration for Batman creator Bob Kane's character of the Joker). Such is Gwynplaine's lot: to be the moneymaking laughingstock for a troupe touring the 17th century British countryside, anatomically forced to smile at the jeering rubes even as bitter tears stream down his face. Still, all is not les miserables in Gwynplaine's little world; he loves and is loved in return by Dea (a radiant Mary Philbin), a blind girl he rescued as a child. Unfortunately, the simple--albeit degrading--life is not to be Gwynplaine's ultimate fate, as he is recognized and dragged back into English court life (as well as the radius of the sexy duchess Josiana, played by Olga Baclanova), where his humiliation continues. I won't reveal the outcome of this romantic-horror-social commentary mini-classic; suffice it to say that Veidt's performance (delivered through hauntingly expressive eyes) is one for the ages, and The Man Who Laughs still packs an emotional wallop over three-quarters of a century after its premiere. Speaking of age, the DVD transfer here is very handsome, and the disc contains a handful of notable extras, including a "making-of" featurette; home movie footage of Veidt, Greta Garbo, Emil Jannings, and others; a photo/art gallery; and a brief essay. Highly recommended. (R. Pitman) [Blu-ray/DVD Combo Review—June 4, 2019—Flicker Alley, 110 min., not rated, Blu-ray/DVD Combo: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and debut on Blu-ray, 1928’s The Man Who Laughs features a nice transfer with DTS-HD 2.0 audio. Extras include a 'Paul Leni and The Man Who Laughs' visual essay by film historian and author John Soister (14 min.), a rare image gallery, an optional audio track, and a booklet featuring essays by film historian and author Kevin Brownlow and composer Sonia Coronado. Bottom line: Paul Leni’s silent classic sparkles on Blu-ray.]