Review of The Man Who Laughs (1928) by Bheema D — 01 Feb 2014
Totes freaky. The title character makes Batman's Joker (who he obviously inspired) look like a kiddie toy. But this is far more Victor Hugo than Frank Miller. It might be an obscure Hugo title compared to his big two, but its got all his familiar trademarks: the intense suffering, the repellant vs compelling creepiness and handicaps, the spoilt aristocracy vs.
starving common folk, the looming tragedy (although I suspect the ending here is Hollywoodised compared to Hugo's). It drags a bit by today's standards of course, but it's so richly atmospheric and freaky that you shouldn't really care.
The early scenes with Gwynplaine as the abandoned kid wandering through the very definition of hell are so well done that the film doesn't reach those compelling heights again.
This review of The Man Who Laughs (1928) was written by Bheema D on 01 Feb 2014.
The Man Who Laughs has generally received very positive reviews.
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