The Man Who Laughs
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Paul Leni
Conrad Veidt
Mary Philbin
Olga Baclanova
Josephine Crowell
George Siegmann
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Gwynplaine, a small boy, his features distorted into a permanent wide grin by order of James II because his father is a political enemy, becomes a famous clown. He and Dea, a blind girl, travel with the van of Ursus, a mountebank. Romance develops until Gwynplaine discovers he is heir to a peerage. Barkilphedro, attached to Queen Anne's court, discovers Gwynplaine's claim to the title. The queen, seeing an opportunity to discipline her half sister, Duchess Josiana, has Gwynplaine restored to his wealth and decrees that he shall marry Josiana. Gwynplaine renounces his title, defies Josiana, and follows Dea and Ursus, who have been banished from England. In his flight Gwynplaine is pursued by soldiers of the queen and Barkilphedro. Escaping unharmed, he finds Dea just as the boat she and Ursus are taking is about to leave.
Director
Paul Leni
Cast
Conrad Veidt
Mary Philbin
Olga Baclanova
Josephine Crowell
George Siegmann
Brandon Hurst
Sam De Grasse
Stuart Holmes
Cesare Gravina
Nick De Ruiz
Edgar Norton
Torben Meyer
Julius Molnar Jr.
Charles Puffy
Frank Puglia
Jack Goodrich
Carmen Costello
Zimbo
Crew
J. Grubb Alexander
Walter Anthony
Edward Cahn
David Cox
Louis Friedlander
Charles D. Hall
Charles D. Hall
Walter Hirsch
Paul Kohner
Carl Laemmle
May Mclean
Jay Merchant
Professor R. H. Newlands
Thomas F. O'neill
Thomas F. O'neill
Maurice Pivar
Lew Pollack
Erno Rapee
Dr. Bela Sekely
John M. Voshell
Marion Ward
Gilbert Warrenton
Vera West
Charles E. Whittaker
Joseph Wright
Joseph Wright
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
The central character, Gwynplaine's fixed grin and distrubing clown like appearance was a key inspiration for comic book talents, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson, for creating Batman's greatest enemy, The Joker.
Lon Chaney was originally cast as Gwynplaine, but at the last minute, he withdrew.
Notes
Company records indicate that, although uncredited, Charles Whittaker, Marion Ward, and May McLean worked on the adaptation.
