Man Who Laughs: Amazon.ca: Mary Philbin, Conrad Veidt, Julius Molnar Jr., Olga Baclanova, Brandon Hurst, Cesare Gravina, Stuart Holmes, Sam De Grasse, George Siegmann, Josephine Crowell, Charles Puffy, Zimbo the Dog, Paul Leni, Charles E. Whittaker, J. Grubb Alexander, Marion Ward, May McLean, Victor Hugo, Walter Anthony: DVD

Product Description

This horror classic was produced by Universal (beginning that studio s string of brilliant horror movies) in response to the success of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. Universal chose two luminaries of German Expressionism director Paul Leni and actor Conrad Veidt for the film and in doing so introduced a new and highly influential aesthetic to American movies. The film stars Veidt as Gwynplaine the son of an aristocrat who is kidnapped for political reasons before being disfigured by a gypsy surgeon who leaves the boy s face paralyzed in a contorted smile. Finding refuge in a traveling theatre troupe Gwynplaine s lineage is eventually discovered and he soon finds himself being pulled back into the social and political world he was taken from as a boy. Featuring a masterful performance from Veidt along with beautiful and haunting photography THE MAN WHO LAUGHS is one of the silent era s great horror films. Year: 1928. Running Time: 110 min. Director: Paul Leni. Main Cast: Conrad Veidt / Mary Philbin. Supporting Cast: Olga Baclanova / Josephine Crowell / George Siegmann. Director of Photography: Gilbert Warrenton. Source Writer: Victor Hugo.

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Customer Reviews

9 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PERFECTION FROM BEGINNING TO END, April 4 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Man Who Laughs (DVD)

Everyone has already said it better than I, so simply drop everything...and purchase this remarkable film.

And thank you, again, KINO, for allowing us the chance to behold these masterworks.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Visual Eloquence, April 2 2004

By

Brad Baker (Atherton, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Man Who Laughs (DVD)

Baes on Victor Hugo's 1869 novel, "The Man Who Laughs" is the morbid tale of Gwynplaine, an English clown doomed to a life adorned with a perpetual grin. His surgical smile was implanted on him by devilish gypsies. Gwynplaine is raised beside lovely Dea, whom we rescued as a baby. Dea is blind and can see only the beauty of his soul. As a complication, the sexy Duchess Josiana is attracted to, and repelled by Gwynplaine, all at the same time. A sensual, robust epic, "The Man Who Laughs" involves court intrigue, secret scandals, and a simple boy's enduring true love. Conrad Veidt played the lead in 1919's "Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". Lured to America in 1926 by actor John Barrymore, Veidt co-starred with him in the classic "Beloved Rogue". Then Universal's Carl Laemmle tapped him for the lead in "The Man Who Laughs". Years later, in 1941, Veidt played Major Strasser in "Casablanca". Just 6 months after it's release, Conrad Veidt died of a heart attack playing golf(8th hole) in Los Angeles, Calif.. The director of "The Man Who Laughs" was also a German import. Paul Leni's production of "Cat and the Canary" installed him as Universal's reigning terror-director. In Leni's "The Man Who Laughs", light is not so important as shadow. Backgrounds unveil misty fog and swirling smoke. Paul Leni finished one more film before an infected, ulcerated tooth caused his early death from blood poisoning. Kino's exceptional DVD of "The Man Who Laughs" represents the successful American-Italian joint restoration of the 75-year-old movie. Slowed by a creaky second-half, "The Man Who Laughs" bogs down in a final melodramatic chase. But don't misunderstand. Silent horror-film fans will relish Leni's macabre art design and relentless animal passion. Just 3 years later, Universal once again photographed a tall, mysterious black-caped stranger; strolling European streets through a dark, swirling fog. This time they called it "Dracula".

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5.0 out of 5 stars The inspiration for the Joker and Conrad Veidt at his finest, Jun 4 2009

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D. Storey "TalkingDevoB52" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Man Who Laughs (DVD)

I don't have much to say other than if you are interested in or love silent films as I do just buy this now. Conrad sure is great.

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