Man Who Laughs [DVD] [2028] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

A child's face is carved into a permanent laugh by comprachicos, gypsies who mutilate children and sell them as freak attractions...the child's nobleman father is tortured and killed in an Iron Maiden by James II...the child, abandoned in a snow storm, finds a baby clutched in the arms of its dead mother and, carrying it, staggers on to finally find shelter in the caravan of Bruno, a traveling maker of entertainments at public fairs...the baby grows into the beautiful, blind maiden Dea (Mary Philbin) and the child, now the man Gwynplaine (Conrad Veidt), is the most popular attraction at the fairs as The Man Who Laughs.

What an interesting, melodramatic, romantic adventure this movie is. With direction by Paul Leni and starring Conrad Veidt, it features many of the strong visuals and unusual story telling of the German silent expressionists. When Gwynplaine's real identity as the heir of an English peer is discovered by the evil court functionary, Barkilphedro, he is plunged into the decadent, corrupt practices of Queen Anne's court. At the climax, he will be recognized as a peer, but will be forced to marry the Duchess Josiana, who up to then had been given possession of his rightful properties and fortune. But will he? He loves Dea and she, him, but he believes no woman can love him with his grotesque face. The conclusion of the movie brings together courage and true love, corruption, false arrest and a rousing chase through the streets of London until Gwynplaine is reunited with Dea and their happiness is assured.

Veidt had to wear artificial teeth hooked up to an appliance that pulled his cheeks back and up. The look later inspired the face of the The Joker. Since the lower half of his face was fixed into the rictus of a laugh and largely immobile, Veidt had to use his eyes to bring a range of emotions to the part. He does a startlingly good job of it. There's no question when Gwynplaine feels love, hurt, uncertainty, resolve, anger. His face isn't used to evoke horror; in fact, much of the time Gwynplaine covers the lower half of his face with his hand or arm, or a handkerchief. He dreads being seen as a freak. When he does uncover his face, it has an effect.

The movie has all of the characteristics that some modern audiences have come to disparage as typical of a "silent film." The emotions are exaggerated, facial expressions and gestures can be over-wrought. They are, of course, because the actors and directors were without sound. This particular movie holds up as still engrossing because of several aspects. First, the story is compelling and the hero, Gwynplaine, is completely sympathetic. There is cruel injustice, fascinatingly evil and corrupt characters, chases and arrests, and a satisfying ending. Second, the look of the film is first rate. We've entered a world of grotesqueness and off-center imagery. The grandeur and detail of the sets and costumes and the large cast make it apparent a bundle of cash was spent on the film. The scenes at the fairs are crowded with dirty, memorable faces, sideshows and attractions. The play of the man who laughs which features Gwynplaine and Dea is lit at night by stage candles. Members of the cast, painted as clowns with drawn-on laughing mouths, surround Gwynplaine and Dea in a vivid and unsettling tableaux. Third, even modern audiences should be caught up in Conrad Veidt's skilled and complex portrayal of Gwynplaine. Almost as fascinating are two other characters. Brandon Hurst plays Barkilphedro as a gleeful spider. With his sharp, exaggerated features and black clothes, he's a sight to see. Stuart Holmes plays Lord Dirry-Moir, betrothed to Duchess Josiana. He is an amusingly high camp picture of an effete and untrustworthy member of the noble class.

The Kino DVD is in very good shape. There are several extras on the disc as well as a four-page booklet that gives a detailed background by John Soister on the movie.