{"product_id":"the-man-who-laughs-masters-of-cinema-blu-ray","title":"THE MAN WHO LAUGHS (Masters of Cinema) Blu-ray","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"col-md-6 pr-md-5\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"\u003eOne of the most visually striking of all the later silent films,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Man Who Laughs\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ereunites German Expressionism director\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ePaul Leni\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand cinematographer Gilbert Warrenton from their horror hit the previous year, The Cat and the Canary (1927). Both films are often considered to be among the earliest works of legendary horror classics from Universal Studios, yet the undeniably eerie The Man Who Laughs is more accurately described as a Gothic melodrama. However, its influence on the genre and the intensity of the imagery art director Charles Hall and makeup genius Jack Pierce would go on to define the look of those 1930s Universal horror landmarks have redefined it as an early horror classic, bolstered by one of the most memorable performances of the period.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAdapted from the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eVictor Hugo\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003enovel, The Man Who Laughs is Gwynplaine (an extraordinary\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eConrad Veidt\u003c\/b\u003e), a carnival sideshow performer in 17th-century England, his face mutilated into a permanent, ghoulish grin by his executed father's royal court enemies. Gwynplaine struggles through life with the blind Dea (Phantom of the Opera's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eMary Philbin\u003c\/b\u003e) as his companion though she is unable to see it, his disfigurement still causes Gwynplaine to believe he is unworthy of her love. But when his proper royal lineage becomes known by Queen Anne, Gwynplaine must choose between regaining a life of privilege, or embracing a new life of freedom with Dea.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe startling makeup on Veidt was the acknowledged direct inspiration for The Joker in the 1940 Batman comic that introduced the character, and film versions of The Joker have been even more specific in their references to Leni's film. While The Man Who Laughs contains powerful elements of tragedy, doomed romance, and even swashbuckling swordplay, its influence on horror cinema is most pronounced. Leni died suddenly at the age of 44 a year after this film (with Veidt also unexpectedly passing away too soon in 1943), and The Man Who Laughs endures as one of the most haunting and stylish American silent films, made just as that era was coming to a close.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Masters of Cinema Series\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis proud to present the film on home video for the first time ever in the UK.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul type=\"disc\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1080p presentation on Blu-ray from Universal s 4K restoration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUncompressed LPCM 2.0 (stereo) score by the Berklee School of Music\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUncompressed LPCM 2.0 (mono) 1928 movietone score\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA brand new interview with author and horror expert Kim Newman\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA brand new video essay by David Cairns and Fiona Watson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePaul Leni and \"The Man Who Laughs\" featurette on the production of the film\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRare stills gallery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePRESS:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"The Man Who Laughs is a truly great, a devastatingly beautiful film. \" \u003cb\u003eTIME Magazine\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One of the final treasures of German silent Expressionism. \" \u003cb\u003eRoger Ebert\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Leni's pictorial genius -- aided here by what must have been an enormous budget -- marks the film as one of the most exhilarating of late silent cinema. \" \u003cb\u003eTime Out\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"EUREKA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46480019849390,"sku":"EKA70393","price":15.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0583\/4614\/3918\/files\/The-Man-Who-Laughs-lime-light-bd.jpg?v=1751295940","url":"https:\/\/limelightcollection.co.uk\/en-eu\/products\/the-man-who-laughs-masters-of-cinema-blu-ray","provider":"Limelight Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}