That said though, I still really enjoyed this, and definitely think you should give it a try. Maybe if it were a little tighter my grade would be a bit higher. The performances by Olga Baclanova, George Siegmann, and Cesare Gravina are pretty swell as well.Īll in all, this is a really good film, but somewhat flawed. Mary Philbin is captivating as Dea, and she and Veidt make for a wonderful screen couple. Conrad Veidt is terrific as Gwynplaine, and Pierce's makeup effects are pretty snazzy, especially considering when this was made. Since it's silent though, a lot of it feels really drawn out and overblown. Maybe if this were a talkie this wouldn't be an issue.

I did enjoy the story, but feel that, at 110 minutes, this is too long. It's a silent affair, but has some great music and sound effects to carry it along. It features wonderful shadowy cinematography, moody set designs, and some good makeup effects from renowned artist Jack Pierce. This was made for Universal, but fits right in with the German Expressionist era that many of the cast and crew got famous in. In reality, it's really just a sweeping melodramatic romance, and a decent one at that.

Eventually Gwynplaine gets drawn back into the world of political intrigue where he finds himself forced to make some really crucial decisions.īecause of Gwynplaine's facial deformity (which also served as the inspiration for Batman's arch nemesis The Joker), and the garish freakshow elements, this film is often thrown in with the horror genre. Finding shelter with a traveling freakshow, Gwynplaine matures into adulthood and falls in love with the beautiful, but blind Dea, who is the only person able to get past his appearance. Based on a novel by Victor Hugo, this is the story of Gwynplaine- a nobleman's son who, when he was a child, was kidnapped by a political rival, and disfigured by a gypsy 'surgeon' who carves a perpetual smile onto the young boy's face.

The man who smiles victor hugo