The Man Who Laughs (film)
Encyclopedia
The Man Who Laughs may refer to various films, all adapted from Victor Hugo's novel
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The Man Who Laughs
The Man Who Laughs is a novel by Victor Hugo, originally published in April 1869 under the French title L'Homme qui rit. Also published under the title By Order of the King...
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- The Man Who Laughs (1909 film)
- A 1909 film, made in France by the PathéPathéPathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
film company and produced by Albert Capellani. No copies of this film are known to survive.
- A 1909 film, made in France by the Pathé
- The Man Who Laughs (1921 film)
- A 1921 film, made in GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, titled Das grinsende Gesicht (“The Grinning Face”). Produced by Olympic Films, directed by Julius Herzka, with Franz Höbling in the leading role as Gwynplaine. This low-budget film is faithful to the novel, but necessarily simplifies and condenses the plot.
- A 1921 film, made in Germany
- The Man Who Laughs (1928 film)The Man Who Laughs (1928 film)The Man Who Laughs is an American silent film directed by the German Expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni. The film is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name and stars Conrad Veidt as Gwynplaine and Mary Philbin as the blind Dea...
, directed by Paul LeniPaul LeniPaul Leni born Paul Josef Levi was a German filmmaker and a key figure in German Expressionist filmmaking, making Backstairs and Waxworks in Germany, and The Cat and the Canary , The Chinese Parrot , The Man Who Laughs , and The Last Warning in...
.- A 19281928 in film-Events:Although some movies released in 1928 had sound, most were still silent.* July 28 - Lights of New York is released by Warner Brothers. It is the first "100% Talkie" feature film, in that dialog is spoken throughout the film...
silent movieSilent MovieSilent Movie is a 1976 satirical comedy film co-written, directed by, and starring Mel Brooks, and released by 20th Century Fox on June 17, 1976...
starring Conrad VeidtConrad VeidtConrad Veidt was a German actor best remembered for his roles in films such as The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari , The Man Who Laughs , The Thief of Bagdad and Casablanca...
, whose performance as Gwynplaine is cited by students of graphic literatureComic bookA comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
as a key influence on the character designCharacter designCharacter design may refer to:* Characterisation, the process of conveying information about characters* Character creation, the process of defining a game character...
of The JokerJoker (comics)The Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Batman, having been directly responsible for numerous tragedies in Batman's life, including the paralysis of Barbara Gordon and the death of Jason Todd, the second Robin...
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- A 1928
- The Man Who Laughs (1966 film)
- A 1966 French-Italian film version made in ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, titled L'uomo che ride, directed by Sergio CorbucciSergio CorbucciSergio Corbucci was an Italian film director. He is best known for his very violent yet intelligent spaghetti westerns...
. This version features elaborate colour photography but a very low production budget. The main action is shifted to Italy and moved yesterwards in time, with the deformed protagonist meeting Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
instead of Queen Anne. In this version, Gwynplaine is renamed Angelo (played by Jean SorelJean SorelJean Sorel is a French actor.He also worked in Italian cinema, and Spanish cinema with directors such as Luis Buñuel or Luchino Visconti. However since 1980 he has worked mostly in television...
). His disfigurement is represented as a single broad slash across his mouth, crude yet convincing. Less convincing are some plot twists, with Dea (actress Lina Sini) miraculously acquiring eyesight, and Angelo undergoing surgery that completely reverses his disfigurement and renders him perfectly handsome. Page on TCM website
- A 1966 French-Italian film version made in Italy
- L'homme qui rit (1971 TV film)
- A TV movie directed by Jean Kerchbron made and distributed in 1971 . It is an adaptation of the novel in three episodes of Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
's novel. Starring Xavier Depraz as Ursus; Philippe ClayPhilippe ClayPhilippe Clay, born Philippe Mathevet, was a French mime artist, singer and actor.He was known for his tall and slim silhouette and for his interpretations of songs by Charles Aznavour, Claude Nougaro, Jean-Roger Caussimon, Boris Vian, Serge Gainsbourg, Jean Yanne, Léo Ferré, Jacques Datin,...
as Barkilphedro; Philippe Bouclet as adult Gwynplaine; Delphine Desyeux as adult Dea; etc.
- A TV movie directed by Jean Kerchbron made and distributed in 1971 . It is an adaptation of the novel in three episodes of Victor Hugo