The Grinning Face
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2016) |
The Grinning Face | |
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Directed by | Julius Herska |
Written by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Eduard Hoesch |
Production company | Olympic-Film |
Release date | 18 March 1921 |
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | Austria-Germany[1] |
Languages |
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The Grinning Face (German:Das grinsende Gesicht), aka The Man Who Laughs,[2] is a 1921 Austrian-German[3] silent horror film directed by Julius Herska and starring Franz Höbling, Nora Gregor and . It is an adaptation of the 1869 novel The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo.[4]
The film was later remade by Paul Leni in 1928 as The Man Who Laughs, which starred Conrad Veidt in the Gwynplaine role.[5]
Plot[]
In the late 17th century in France, the young son of a widowed lord is kidnapped by gypsies, who carve a permanent grin on the child's face. When the disfigured youth (Franz Hobling) grows up, he falls in love with a blind girl named Dea (Lucienne Delacroix), and joins a touring company as a performer. Calling himself Gwynplaine, he develops an act in which he reveals his hideous face to the crowds for money. A sexually perverse, seductive socialite named Josiane becomes attracted to him and seeks to possess him. He later learns he is heir to a fortune, but chooses instead to remain with his adopted family.
Cast[]
- Franz Höbling as Gwynplaine
- Nora Gregor as Herzogin Josiane
- as Dea
- Anna Kallina as Queen Anne of England
- Eugen Jensen as Barkilphedro
- as Lord Bolinbroke
- as Ursus
- as Lord David Dirry-Moir
- as King James II of England
- as Lord Linäus Claincharlie
- as Lady Dirry-Moir
- as Dr. Gerardus
- as Dr. Hardqusnonne
References[]
- ^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 240.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
- ^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 240.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
- ^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 240.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
- ^ Prince p.55
- ^ Workman, Christopher; Howarth, Troy (2016). "Tome of Terror: Horror Films of the Silent Era". Midnight Marquee Press. p. 240.ISBN 978-1936168-68-2.
Bibliography[]
- Prince, Stephen. The Horror Film. Rutgers University Press, 2004.
External links[]
- 1921 films
- Austrian films
- 1920s historical horror films
- Austrian silent feature films
- Austrian horror films
- Austrian historical films
- Films based on French novels
- Films based on works by Victor Hugo
- Films set in the 17th century
- Films set in London
- Cultural depictions of Anne, Queen of Great Britain
- Austrian black-and-white films
- Films directed by Julius Herska
- 1921 horror films
- Austrian film stubs
- Pre-1960 horror film stubs
- 1920s film stubs