The Man Who Laughs

@celticeagle (189838)

Boise, Idaho

January 23, 2025 5:32pm CST

Conrad Veidt played the character Gwynplain in the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs. The character is disfigured with a permanent grin on his face. Yes, the creators of Batman's iconic nemesis, The Joker, drew their visual inspiration from Veidt's portrayal of Gwynplain. The silent film adaption of Victor Hugo's novel opened on April 27, 1928, in New York's Central Theater. It is the story of an 18th-century clown who is disfigured by a king. The picture is from fineartamerica.com

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3 responses

@Deepizzaguy (122122)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

24 Jan 25

I always wondered where the character known as The Joker was based on.

1 person likes this

@celticeagle (189838)

• Boise, Idaho

24 Jan 25

I did too.

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@Deepizzaguy (122122)

• Lake Charles, Louisiana

24 Jan 25

@celticeagle I did the see the Batman movie that starred Michael Keaton and the cartoon series but the origin of the Joker was never brought up.

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@celticeagle (189838)

• Boise, Idaho

24 Jan 25

@Deepizzaguy ......The character is what this is the inspiration of.

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@ekta54 (1337)

• Delhi, India

24 Jan 25

I have not seen this film.

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@celticeagle (189838)

• Boise, Idaho

24 Jan 25

It was in 1928. A silent film.

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@ekta54 (1337)

• Delhi, India

25 Jan 25

@celticeagle Ooooo...

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@JudyEv (381967)

• Rockingham, Australia

24 Jan 25

I haven't seen that film.

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@celticeagle (189838)

• Boise, Idaho

24 Jan 25

I don't think many of us have.

1 person likes this