The Man Who Laughs
The Man Who Laughs is a 1928 American romantic melodrama silent film directed by the German Expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni. The film is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1869 novel of the same name and stars Conrad Veidt as Gwynplaine and Mary Philbin as Dea. "The Man Who Laughs" is a Gothic historical romance in the vein of earlier Universal prestige productions "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Phantom of the Opera", but is best remembered for Gwynplaine's grotesque rictus grin, which has led to its reputation as an early Hollywood horror film.