The Man Who Laughs (1928) ****

Paul Leni's The Man Who Laughs (1928) is melodrama and tragedy embodied. This affecting, horror-adjacent adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1869 novel features an iconic (uncredited) Jack Pierce makeup and a committed realization by Conrad Veidt. As well, there are wonderful performances by the beautiful Mary Philbin (compelling and empathetic here) and the saucy Olga Baclanova (who bears a striking resemblance to 1980s-era Madonna). The permanent rictus grin of the titular character was an acknowledged influence on that most famous Batman villain. The film is a bit long, but the pacing, action (particularly the exciting finale which even features some swashbuckling), and its influence more than make up for it.

Recommended for fans of The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (1923), The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) (review), Freaks (1932) (review), and The Elephant Man (1980) (review).

Paul Leni Feature Films Ranked