I was watching a documentary called “Universal Horror” which had clips of (mostly) Universal horror films such as “Dracula” and “Frankenstein.” The show had a few clips of non-Universal horror pictures also. There was a clip from a movie where a man had a deformed face, (it was like he had a permanent smile on his face), was mocked by people and somehow fell in love… a lot like “Phantom of the Opera.” BUT, I didn’t catch the name of this movie, (no, it wasn’t Phantom, but the “monster” sort of looked like the monster in the clasic 1925 phantom… permanent smile and all).
I looked up “Universal Horror” in Internet Movie Database, and clicked on “movie connections”, but it only lists a handful of the movies featured on the show. “Phantom of the Opera” was featured on the show but isn’t listed in IMDB. This movie isn’t listed either. I know it had sound and I’m pretty sure it had a famous leading lady. I’m not sure if it’s Universal. I also think there was a fair in it with old-time park rides. (oh, it wasn’t about a man who didn’t have any arms either)
Anyone have any idea what the name of this movie is?
According to IMDB it was done in 1980 by Paramount (in black and white). It’s the true story of John Merrick (it’s true, right?) who was a deformed fellow.
As I recall, there was a lot of slobbering in the movie. I couldn’t sit through it.
I don’t think it’s Mr. Sardonicus, that movie had a “Punishment Poll”, but I think the theme of the story was this was a good guy but looked at like a monster
Ayuh, but I think that the Powers that Be created the Cafe Society forum because they felt there might have been too many A&E questions in GQ. The forum description is pretty clear:
That being said, I’m glad you posted in GQ, 'cuz I probably would have missed it in Cafe Society.
I looked “The Man Who Laughed” up in IMDB, there was nothing there. So I looked up Lon Chaney (Sr.) and it lists that he made a movie called “Laugh, Clown, Laugh”, which was a remake of “He Who Gets Slapped”, wich was a remake of “Tot, kto poluchayet poshchechini”
It sounds like the Man Who Laughs, but it stars Conrad Veidt not Lon Chaney. This movie also inspired Bob Kane to create the Joker according to one account I have read.
Actually, it was Conrad Veidt in the 1929 Universal silent movie version of THE MAN WHO LAUGHS. The co-star was Mary Philbin, who unmasked the Chaney in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.
It sounds like the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs, an adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel which was produced by Universal and starred Conrad Veidt and Mary Philbin.
Well, it looks like i was too late to the party, Exeter5 and ScriptAnalyst beat me to the punch. Oh well, he who snoozes…
I read the book on a recommendation of my English Lit teacher. It took me longer to find a copy than to actually read the book. Not as well written as Notre Dame de Paris but similar in that the main character (Gwynplaine) was horribly disfigured. Unfortunately, the book is so damn depressing that i wouldn’t recommend it to any but die hard Hugo fans.
