MovieChat Forums > The Man Who Laughs (1928) Discussion > in one word: masterpiece

in one word: masterpiece

posted 21 years ago by Jenabel_Regina_del_Mundo
12 replies | jump to latest

I've wanted to see this film since I was a child. My grandmother raised me on silent movies, often lousy prints she'd show me on her rickety old Brownie projector. This was how I first viewed The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari, The Cat And The Canary, Phantom Of The Opera, and countless others. She told me of seeing a film that completely overwhelmed her when she was a girl: The Man Who Laughs. She informed me that it starred Conrad Veidt (of Caligari fame), was directed by Paul Leni (who helmed Cat & Canary), and also featured as heroine, Mary Philbin (who co-starred with Lon Chaney in Phantom). She gave me the desire to see Man Who Laughs.

I finally got to see it this afternoon. WOW. One of the greatest films to come out of Hollywood's silent era. I have just viewed a creative masterpiece.

To approximately quote Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond: "Isn't it wonderful? And no dialog. We didn't need dialog then, we had FACES!"

But then who am I to say? I haven't looked at a television set in nearly 2 years. I've given up completely on Hollywood and its lowest common denominator, FX-driven, salacious, sensationalistic trash. I got sick of TV and Hollywood insulting my intelligence. If it weren't for foreign language and indie films there would be nothing current worth watching.

Hollywood had its last gasp around 1970. Since then, like a cannibal vampire, it's been feeding off its own rotten carcass and recycling its own excrement to serve up to an apathetic public. Thanks to quality DVD releases of masterpieces such as The Man Who Laughs (thank you Kino International for granting a lifelong wish) I can at least celebrate the Hollywood that once was.

If current Hollywood crap turns your stomach like it does mine, I suggest you make a point of seeing this film. It has absolutely everything to recommend it. Flawless. Perfection.

Just my educated opinion as an artist, actress and lifelong passionate lover of REAL cinema.

BTW - footnote to cinemantrap's post on Olga Baclanova - she's not only fine in this film, she's even better in Josef von Sternberg's 1928 classic The Docks Of New York. A noteworthy actress who makes the idiot actresses of Hollywood today look like the talentless no-class bimbos that most of them are. (Great website, cinemantrap.)

Sometimes I'd prefer not to have my superpowers, if only to make my adventures a bit more difficult

[–] cinemantrap 21 years ago

Enjoyed your great post and am very happy that you have visited my website
olgabaclanova.com

[–] Jenabel_Regina_del_Mundo 20 years ago

I can't tell you how delighted I was to see your website. I've been a fan of the great Baclanova for most of my life. When I'd look for information about her online, the best I could find was references to Freaks. Which was a courageous tour de force indeed, and a film I love; but thanks to you, she has been restored to her proper place, as an accomplished, remarkably contemporary actress with an enormous range. Not only do you give her back to us, you do it with incomparable style. Thank you so much for making this fan happy.

[–] Iudex 19 years ago

Agree with you in every words!

[–] NatachaRambova 17 years ago

BRAVO! I HATE Hollywood now! And have you noticed how they act like they are the best now, and everything in the past doesn't compare to their "great masterpieces(yeah pieces all right, pieces of SH*T!)" of today! It disgust me! Most of the movies are half pornographic and dumb dialogue and stupid lame stories! No wonder I only watch old movies(black and white is pretty much all I watch!). It's sad Gloria Swanson's famous and VERY true quote still stands VERY strong today! The celebs today SUCK! Nodbody cares about them at all(not hard to see why)! The Golden era of Hollywood, people cared and loved the movie actors more than anybody else! And they were all talented and had great faces(that doesn't mean pretty adonis looks only, some actors had strange faces but they were unique and a delight to look at), Actors today don't have anything special about their looks or their "talent". I wonder what all the actors and film-makers who made Hollywood are thinking on how Hollywood is now. I wish they would all come back and take back Hollywood and make it something important and wonderful again! *sigh* I was not meant to live in this disgusting era... :(

"He who gazes upon the sun, need not debate it's brilliance! ... Uh, Ling Po." -Harold Lloyd

[–] lshaffer-6 17 years ago

I'm 17 years old, and unlike any teen in this era, I prefer silent films to today's modern films. The Man Who Laughs has got to be my favorite film next to It's a Wonderful Life (different era but who cares?) The emotion shown in the actors' faces are just mind-numbing since they weren't able to speak back in the 20's. I cry every time Gwynplaine comes back and finds Dea sleeping and think she's dead? At least that's what he thinks, I'm not entirely sure. Maybe he was just upset that he'd betrayed her. Anyways that whole movie makes me cry. It gives you a whole new outlook on people with disabilities, no matter how strange they are. Gwynpliane and Dea FOREVER!!!!!

[–] Xcalat3 17 years ago

well said

When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...

[–] Marinas1212 16 years ago

I really enjoyed your post and wanted to share a comment my sister made on the last foreign film we saw, "Tell No One."

She said in the lobby as we were leaving the theater, "Have you ever noticed how real European actors look? They always appear completely real and believable - even the attractive ones, let the alone the regulars - compared to the Hollywood/American-made movies where everyone looks perfect - perfectly made-up and unnatural, even the so called plain janes ie best friends, or side-kicks."

I never thought about that before and then I thought back to all the foreign films I've seen and I had to agree with her. I think her observation was similar to yours in how she notes the difference in quality. It's like one school of film relies on an airbrushed and otherworldly, often fake look, while the other focuses on realism, to bring the viewer into the film to share the experience.

A great post all around!

Why wish for the moon when we can have the stars?

[–] [email protected] 16 years ago

Watched The Man Who Laughs last night. What a great film!! The restored version with the specially scored soundtrack and the addition of sound effects and the 'noise of the crowd'..really added to the atmosphere and I had to remind myself that this was 'a silent film' a couple of times.

Conrad Veidt was so good as Gwynplaine. I was amazed by his grin. He was obviously wearing prosthetic teeth to exaggerate the grin but the size of his grin amazed me. Did he wear some sort of contraption in his mouth to extend the corners of his mouth to that extent? (like Chaney did in London After Midnight). You try grinning that widely...continuously for more than a minute or so..it ain't easy! Especially when trying to convey sadness or concern with just your eyes..believe me..I was in front of the mirror for about 10 mins last night trying it! Amazing performance from Veidt!

Also..I couldn't get over how much Olga Baclanova (as The Duchess) looked like Madonna!! She even has the mole on the top lip

My only complaint is that the sets (supposed to be England circa 1700) looked like the same sets used to represent medeival Paris and Germany in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Der Golem respectively...also that cheesy song over the love scene at the end I could have done without. But those minor moans apart I'm so glad I finally got to see this. Recommened

[–] TheaterRaven 16 years ago

Conrad Veidt was so good as Gwynplaine. I was amazed by his grin. He was obviously wearing prosthetic teeth to exaggerate the grin but the size of his grin amazed me. Did he wear some sort of contraption in his mouth to extend the corners of his mouth to that extent?

Yeah, he had small wire hooks on the false teeth to hold the corners of his mouth back.

Nevermore!

[–] samadee 16 years ago

This film is breathtaking. I am absolutely captivated by it.

Aloha maku maku. Kahlui Ama Tutu. Don Ho will not emerge from the Valley of Darkness.

[–] silhouette1312 16 years ago

I concur. This film is so beautiful to me, I love it dearly. I wish more people would watch quality films instead of paying so much money to see the same horrible crap reciprocated. Most people find me strange for being 18 and loving older movies, but they had such a great quality about them back then. Besides some independant films of today, there is basically no heart going into films anymore.

Kiss Me, My Fool! -Theda Bara