The Man Who Laughs (1928) 1/11

Directed by Paul Leni

Conrad Veidt - Gwynplaine

Mary Philbin - Dea

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo.

As a young boy Gwynplaine, the son of a disfavoured Lord, becomes the victim of revenge against his father -- the King orders the boy have a permanent smile carved onto is face. Abandoned by his captors in the winter snow, he finds a baby girl in the arms of her dead mother. They are taken in by a travelling freak show and Gwynplaine becomes a popular attraction. As they grow up together, Gwynplaine falls in love with Dea, the child he rescued, who is blind, and she with him. Unaware of his true identity, Gwynplaine becomes unwittingly drawn back into the world of politics that had left him so horrifically scarred many years ago...

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  Entertainment

[twistedmetalworks1]

The origin of Batman's arch enemy The Joker

[Danielle Guzman]

"As a young boy Gwynplaine, the son of a disfavoured Lord, becomes the victim of revenge against his father -- the King orders the boy have a permanent smile carved onto is face." So thats how u got ur scars.

[PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

Philbin & Veidt are terrific in this 1928 Leni-directed classic. Great upload!

[Moff Huve]

Vsauce2 brought me here

[Susi K]

Love this film, and love the book too... Such a cruel story. Thank U for sharing!!

[iheartslashers]

I KNEW it was Mary Philbin! I KNEW it!

[Slava Konovalov]

wtf the technik 3d universal :D

[cikasba]

Actually gwynplaine was the inspiration, not the jester.

[Ginn87]

Gwynplaine (title character) was the inspired the Joker not Bakilpherdo (the evil jester) Though on second thought I suppose the creators could have drawn from both.