The Man Who Laughs. 1928. Directed by Paul Leni.

(2/8/01)

The Man Who Laughs was Paul Leni's second film for Universal and was a much more elaborate film tha The Cat and the Canary which it followed. It is curious that it is not as well known--at least as far as I am aware.

Based on a text by Victor Hugo it is a story of cruelty. A young boy is mutilated by having his face carved with a perpetual grin. This was done as a revenge against his father who defied King James I of England. Later, Queen Anne restores him to his father's rank, but orders him to marry the woman who had inherited the estate which would have been his as a cruel joke.

The child is given to gypsies who leave him at the dock as they sail away, having been exiled. This scene of the abandonment of a mutilated little boy is horrible.

The film has some interesting parallels and contrasts. The scene at the beginning where the little boy is left on the dock is paralleled and in a sense completed at the end when he manages to escape from the queen's soldiers (or whoever they are) and join his family who have been exiled from England.

The life of Southwark Fair is contrasted with the stilted court of Queen Anne. And Gwynplaine, the Man Who Laughs, is contrasted with the evil jester who likewise wears a fictitious smile.

Then there is the contrast between good-girl Mary Philbin and bad-girl Olga Baclanova. What I find interesting is that during the first half of the film Philbin seems rather lifeless and Baclanova is full of vitality, but after Gwynplaine is captured Philbin becomes much more interesting. Her eyes in particular are so haunting and we really come to feel for her. At least I did.

The first shot of Baclanova's character is really interesting--and erotic. Through a keyhole we see her legs stepping into a bath. Later we actually see her butt. That was pretty unusual for a 1928 movie. She exudes a perverse sexuality in her scenes with Conrad Veidt (Gwynplaine)--aroused by him because of his deformity. She really comes on strong and is fascinating to watch.

I was surprised by the characterization of Queen Anne as such a heartless woman. I had never thought of Queen Anne as a bitch. (Wawsn't she called "Good Queen Anne"?) I don't think that is how she is viewed in the popular imagination, so seeing her like that was quite jarring.

The whole pace of the film seems tochange at the end and it turns into an action picture. I was surprised by this because I had expected the situation between Gwynplaine and Queen Anne to be resolved, possibly by him making an impassioned plea for his freedom. But the escape where Gwynplaine is reunited with his beloved is very enjoyable. I especially liked the dog jumping out of the boat and swimming back to the dock to menace one of the pursuing soldiers.

I do want to mention that Conrad Veidt was so touching as Gwynplaine. His sad eyes were so touching, showing such hurt above that omnipresent grin. (A lot of the time he covered his mouth, making himself look like a bandit.)

Alas, the situation between Gwynplaine and the blind girl isn't worked out. At first he resists returning her love because he is deformed. Then, after they are separated, that all seems to be forgotten and we don't hear anymore about it. The issue is never resolved.