Review of The Man Who Laughs (1928) by César Z — 15 Jul 2007
A beacon of silent cinema, one for the ages. On a time where US cinema needed a strong dose of German expressionism, there came Leni and Veidt and set the path for Universal's posterior horror blockbusters ("Dracula", "Frankenstein", etc.
). Plus, it's based on a writing by Victor Hugo, so you can't go wrong there. Totalling a monstruous 1:45 hours aprox., this movie defied the conventional silent movie of the era. A must see: it has more thrills and tears that many a modern movie, and portrays the grandeur of Hollywood productions and the raw emotion of German expressionist cinema.
If you get the Kino version, don't forget to watch the special features: they're worth it.(This review is based on the Kino restoration. I am unaware if any other versions of the film exist).
This review of The Man Who Laughs (1928) was written by César Z on 15 Jul 2007.
The Man Who Laughs has generally received very positive reviews.
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