PLYMOUTH — Based on a Victor Hugo novel, it paved the way for early horror classics such as “Dracula” (1931) and “Frankenstein” (1931).
It was “The Man Who Laughs” (1928), a silent film thriller that inspired the look of Batman’s nemesis “The Joker.”
The rarely screened film will be shown with live music on Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Flying Monkey Moviehouse and Performance Center, 39 Main St., Plymouth.
Live music will be provided by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films.
“The Man Who Laughs,” directed by Paul Leni and starring Conrad Veidt, is a silent thriller about a disfigured man forced to wear an insane grin all his life.
The movie was a popular and ground-breaking silent film adaptation of a sprawling Victor Hugo novel set in 17th century England.
Veidt stars as Gwynplaine, a child born of English nobility. After his father is executed, a cruel King James II orders a royal surgeon to hideously disfigure young Gwynplaine’s face into a permanent smile, so that he may always laugh at his father’s foolishness.
Critics have praised “The Man Who Laughs” for its dark visual style and daring story content.
For tickets, visit flyingmonkeynh.com.
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