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Joker's Original 1928 Film Inspiration Just Entered Public Domain (& He's Terrifying)

posted a year ago by Satan2016 (25577)
1 reply | jump to latest

Seems to be on youtube now.

https://screenrant.com/joker-man-who-laughs-enters-public-domain-gwynplaine/

As 2024 dawns, a range of classic pop culture just entered the public domain, including the character who inspired Batman's nemesis the Joker. While fans are currently celebrating 1928's Steamboat Willie entering public domain and making it possible to create new works with at least an early version of Mickey Mouse, another treasure from the same year also made the leap - the German Expressionist film The Man Who Laughs, and its eerie protagonist Gwynplaine.

While The Man Who Laughs is a well-regarded film (based on Victor Hugo's 1869 movie of the same name), the most lasting element of its legacy is inspiring DC Comics' Joker.

[–] Satan2016 (25577) 9 months ago

Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO2TziSjQkE
Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-xDzeTCAYs

Disfigured by a king as a child, an 18th-century clown again becomes the pawn of royalty and the star of the freak show of a traveling carnival.

The Man Who Laughs is a 1928 American silent film directed by the German Expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni. The film is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1869 novel of the same name and stars Mary Philbin as the blind Dea and Conrad Veidt as Gwynplaine. The film is known for the grim carnival freak-like grin on the character Gwynplaine's face which often leads it to be classified as a horror film.