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Name Occurs Before Title Offscreen Credit Print Viewed By AFI Stub Record
The Man Who Laughs
Director: Paul Leni (Dir)
Release Date:   4 Nov 1928
Premiere Information:   New York opening: 27 Apr 1928
Duration (in mins):   124
Duration (in feet):   10,195
Duration (in reels):   10
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Cast:   Conrad Veidt (Gwynplaine)  
    Mary Philbin (Dea)  
    Olga Baclanova (Duchess Josiana)  
    Josephine Crowell (Queen Anne)  
    George Siegmann (Dr. Hardquannone)  
    Brandon Hurst (Barkilphedro, the Jester)  
    Sam De Grasse (King James)  
    Stuart Holmes (Lord Dirry-Noir)  
    Cesare Gravina (Ursus)  
    Nick De Ruiz (Wapentake)  
    Edgar Norton (Lord High Chancellor)  
    Torben Meyer (The Spy)  
    Julius Molnar Jr. (Gwynplaine, as a child)  
    Charles Puffy (Innkeeper)  
    Frank Puglia (Clown)  
    Jack Goodrich (Clown)  
    Carmen Costello (Dea's mother)  
    Zimbo (Homo, the Wolf)  
Summary: Gwynplaine, a small boy, his features distorted into a permanent wide grin by order of James II because his father is a political enemy, becomes a famous clown. He and Dea, a blind girl, travel with the van of Ursus, a mountebank. Romance develops until Gwynplaine discovers he is heir to a peerage. Barkilphedro, attached to Queen Anne's court, discovers Gwynplaine's claim to the title. The queen, seeing an opportunity to discipline her half sister, Duchess Josiana, has Gwynplaine restored to his wealth and decrees that he shall marry Josiana. Gwynplaine renounces his title, defies Josiana, and follows Dea and Ursus, who have been banished from England. In his flight Gwynplaine is pursued by soldiers of the queen and Barkilphedro. Escaping unharmed, he finds Dea just as the boat she and Ursus are taking is about to leave. 
Production Company: Universal Pictures Corp.  
Distribution Company: Universal Pictures Corp.  
Director: Paul Leni (Dir)
Producer: Carl Laemmle (Pres)
  Paul Kohner (Prod supv)
Writer: J. Grubb Alexander (Scen)
  Charles E. Whittaker (Adpt)
  Marion Ward (Adpt)
  May McLean (Adpt)
  Dr. Bela Sekely (Story supv)
  Walter Anthony (Titles)
Photography: Gilbert Warrenton (Dir of photog)
Art Direction: Charles D. Hall (Art dir)
  Joseph Wright (Art dir)
  Thomas F. O'Neill (Art dir)
  Charles D. Hall (Tech dir)
  Joseph Wright (Tech dir)
  Thomas F. O'Neill (Tech dir)
Film Editor: Maurice Pivar (Film ed)
  Edward Cahn (Film ed)
Costumes: David Cox (Cost)
  Vera West (Cost)
Production Misc: John M. Voshell (Prod staff)
  Jay Merchant (Prod staff)
  Louis Friedlander (Prod staff)
  Professor R. H. Newlands (Tech research)
Country: United States
Language: English
Music:
Songs: "When Love Comes Stealing," words and music by Walter Hirsch, Lew Pollack and Erno Rapee.
Composer: Walter Hirsch
  Lew Pollack
  Erno Rapee
Source Text: Based on the novel L'homme qui rit by Victor Hugo (Paris, 1869).
Authors: Victor Hugo
Copyright Claimant Copyright Date Copyright Number
Universal Pictures Corp. 7/5/1928 dd/mm/yyyy LP25227
Physical Properties: Si: Mus score and sd eff by Movietone
  b&w:
 
Genre: Melodrama
 
Subjects (Major): Anne, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, 1665-1714
  Beauty, Personal
  Blindness
  Charlatans
  Clowns
  Dogs
  James II, King of England, 1633--1701
  Nobility
  Wolves
Note: Company records indicate that, although uncredited, Charles Whittaker, Marion Ward, and May McLean worked on the adaptation. 
Bibliographic Sources:   Date   Page
EHW & MPW   13 Oct 1928   p. 46.
Film Daily   6 May 1928   p. 4.
New York Times   28 Apr 1928   p. 12.
Photoplay   May 1928   p. 55.
Variety   2 May 1928   p. 14.
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