PLAZA

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 591, 18 February 1929, Page 15

PLAZA

“THE MAN WHO LAUGHS” A. picturisation of Victor Hugo’s immortal novel of England about 1705 entitled, “The Man Who Laughs,” is now being shown at the Plaza Theatre.

Once in a blue moon a motion picture critic is happy to bo what he is, and “The Man Who Laughs’* has the strength to delight the critics as well as the audience.

The entire cast, from the stars to the supernumeraries, seem to have been imbued with the captivating qualities of this powerful drama of love and court intrigue, and to have enacted their roles with inspiration.

Mary Pliilbin is divine as Dea, the little blind maid. She is photographed at her best, and gives an emotional portrayal seldom, if ever, equalled by any other star in screenland.

This most unusual of photoplays is featured by what will probably go down as two of the finest characterisations of 1929, Miss Philbin’s is one of these, while Conrad Veidt’s is the other. Veidt’s role is that, of Gwynplaine, whose face is carved into a permanent grin by a political surgeon, and who becomes a clown with a travelling circus. Veidt runs the gamut of emotions but always with his indelible grimace. The pathos of this is the finest that has come to the screen.

In lesser, but important roles, Josephfno Crowell is outstanding as Queen Anne, Brandon Hurst is ominous as Barkilpliedro, Alga Baclanova is stirring as the depraved but beautiful Duchess Josiana and Stuart Holmes is splendid as a foppish lord. Paul Beni. the noted German director, gains credit for this outstanding' photoplay.

The settings and photography, equal anything ever screened. Leni is a master of set designing and of light-

ins. The old English structures and scenes have been reproduced with remarkable fidelity. Leni’s atmospheric direction makes for realism of the most impressive kind.

There is an excellent supporting programme, and Mr. Hartley-Warbur-ton’s fine baritone voice is heard to great effect in “Laugh, Clown, Laugh” and “Love Comes Stealing.”