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OPEN CLASSIC CINEMA · 677

The Man Who Laughs

1928110 minUnited States
RomanceDramaHorror
Video edition
Wikimedia Commons
Original language
No spoken dialogue. Intertitles: English.
This copy runs
110:08
Subtitles
No subtitle track in this language

Languages and subtitles

No subtitle track in this language

Wikimedia Commons · Paul Leni · Public domain

Synopsis

Gwynplaine earns his living as a travelling performer, his face fixed in a smile imposed on him during childhood. His love for Dea, who is blind, offers a life beyond the curiosity of spectators. When his origins attract the attention of the aristocracy, he must confront a different kind of performance and exploitation.

Cast

DirectorsPaul Leni

Inspirations

Paul Leni's film adapts Victor Hugo's novel. Its grotesque central image belongs to a romantic melodrama about status, cruelty and affection, rather than a conventional story of a murderous monster.

Behind the scenes

The release combined silent dramatic performance with a synchronized score and sound effects. Although promoted as a sound attraction, it does not have spoken dialogue.

Sources and availability

General references identify the work and its copy. A reference beside an editorial section is linked to the claims checked in that section.

Wikipedia — film referenceWikidata — film identity and credits

Work catalogued as public domain in the United States.

The public-domain references concern the original films in the United States. Rights can differ for other countries, editions, restorations, music or translations. Sources are listed on each film page.

Availability checked on September 12, 2026.

Photograph credit

Photographs cropped, resized and optimized as WebP, displayed in monochrome.

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