Nov 21, 2021
Conrad Veidt (as Gwynplaine) in 'The Man Who Laughs' (1928 silent film), directed by the German Expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni. This film is an adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1869 novel of the same name. It tells the story of Gwynplaine, who had, as a boy, a grin carved upon his face by Hardquanonne, a Comprachico surgeon. The Joker, nemesis to DC Comics's Batman, owes his exaggerated smile to a photograph of Veidt from the film.