The Man Who Laughs (1928) follows Gwynplaine, a noble child cruelly disfigured with a permanent grin who grows up as a traveling performer, masking deep sorrow beneath his frozen smile. As he discovers his true heritage and confronts the rigid cruelty of aristocratic society, love and identity collide with exploitation and power. This silent drama blends romantic tragedy and social critique into a visually striking tale of suffering, dignity, and injustice.
Selected disc options for The Man Who Laughs
| Extras | Flicker Alley BD-A/US/OOP 2019 | Umbrella BD-ALL/AU 2026 | Eureka BD-B/UK/OOP 2020 | Kino DVD-0/US/OOP 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Face Deceives - Video Essay by David Cairns and Fiona Watson | has extra | |||
| Paul Leni and “The Man Who Laughs” - Video Essay by John Soister | has extra | has extra | ||
| The Story Behind “The Man Who Laughs” | has extra | |||
| Interview with Kim Newman on Paul Leni | has extra | |||
| Excerpt from Italian Version | has extra | |||
| “At Home with Conrad Veidt” - Excerpt from Die Filmstadt Hollywood | has extra | |||
| About the Restoration | has extra | |||
| Stills Gallery [Flicker Alley / Eureka] | has extra | has extra | ||
| Stills Gallery [Kino] - Photos, Promotional | has extra | |||
| Excerpt from Victor Hugo’s Novel | has extra |
Notes
- Flicker Alley’s Blu-ray includes a booklet with writing by Kevin Brownlow (“Celebrating Universal’s Masterpiece”) and Sonia Coronado (“Notes On the New Score”).
- Umbrella’s Blu-ray is included in the “Universal Horror: Monsters & Curiosities” box set. It contains a 100-page booklet and ten art cards.
- Eureka’s Blu-ray includes a booklet with writing by Kevin Brownlow (“The Man Who Laughs”), Richard Combs (“Not the Haunted Screen: ‘The Man Who Laughs’”), Travis Crawford (“Paul Leni’s ‘The Man Who Laughs’”) and Sonia Coronado (“‘The Man Who Laughs’ Experience”).
- Kino’s DVD is also available in the “American Silent Horror Collection” box set with (),
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