Above: A vintage poster for ‘The Man Who Laughs’ advertises the expressionist silent film melodrama. Right: Jeff Rapsis will provide live original musical accompaniment at the screening Oct. 29 in Ogunquit.
Admission is $10 per person. Live music will be provided by accompanist Jeff Rapsis, a New England-based performer who specializes in creating music for silent film presentations.
The movie was a popular and ground-breaking silent film adaptation of a sprawling Victor Hugo novel set in 17th century England.
Veidt stars as Gwynplaine, a child born of English nobility. After his father is executed, a cruel King James II orders a royal surgeon to hideously disfigure young Gwynplaine’s face into a permanent smile, so that he may always laugh at his father’s foolishness.
This striking look was later adapted by Batman creator Bob Kane as a model for the physical appearance of iconic villain ‘The Joker.’
Critics have praised ‘The Man Who Laughs’ for its dark visual style and daring story content.
Director Leni, originally trained as an artist, made ample use of shadows and darkness in ‘The Man Who Laughs,’ which set the stage for many legendary Universal horror classics soon to follow, including ‘Dracula’ (1931) and ‘Frankenstein’ (1931).
‘The Man Who Laughs’ is the final screening of the 2016-17 silent film series at the Leavitt, a seasonal venue which first opened as a silent movie house in 1923.
“If you haven’t seen a silent film the way it was intended to be shown, then you’re missing a unique experience,” said Peter Clayton, longtime Leavitt owner/operator. “At their best, silent films can be surprisingly sophisticated. They still retain a tremendous ability to cast a spell, engage an audience, tap into elemental emotions, and provoke strong reactions.”
‘The Man Who Laughs’ (1928) will be screened on Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. at the historic Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main St. in downtown Ogunquit, Maine. General admission is $10 per person. For more information, call the theater at 646-3123 or visit leavittheatre.com.
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