Film
The Man Who Laughs + live piano accompaniment
- Director
- Paul Leni
- Running Time
- 110 mins
Looks rather familiar, doesn’t he? Yep, the make-up style that defines DC’s The Joker actually derives from this 1928 silent adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel.
https://youtu.be/2KhzpkSDwHA
The great Conrad Veidt plays Gwynplaine, who was orphaned as a child and punished by the king for his father’s transgressions by having his face carved into a hideous grin. He subsequently rescues a blind girl named Dea (Mary Philbin), who doesn’t know about his hideous countenance, and they fall in love. Although the film was made in the US, director Paul Leni brought his big box of expressionist influences with him from Germany, so it actually feels very European. He also died the next year, aged just 44. This South West Silents screening in Bristol Cathedral for Halloween features live piano accompaniment by Meg Morley. Go here for tickets.
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