91 Days to Halloween- 1928 The Man Who Laughs

Over the next 100 days, I will present one movie of significances in horror, suspense or thrillers for each year from 1919 to 2018. The next film presented here is the 1928 American silent romantic drama The Man Who Laughs directed by Paul Leni and starring German actor Conrad Veidt

The Man Who Laughs (1928)

Dir- Paul Leni

A boy named Gwynplaine who was disfigured with a permanent smile after his Lord father was executed grows up working in the circus and finds love with a woman who is blind but true to him. Once his royal title is revealed he then must decide if he wishes to take his father's title or live the life of a commoner with the woman he loves. The Man Who Laughs is not really a horror story but like The Phantom of the Opera is a romantic tale that is best remembered for the disfiguring appearance of the main character. In a role created for Lon Chaney, German actor Conrad Veidt took up the task and created a character that would inspire one of the great comic book villains of all time The Joker. His role as Gwynplaine would be remembered for its freakish grin even if his name is not as well known as Lon Chaney.