This week on Showtime at the Senate, I talk with Green Brain Comics co-owner Dan Merritt about the 1928 silent film classic The Man Who Laughs, some history about the film, his influence on the initial creation of the Joker and his many variations since.  

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Sat. Feb. 8th, 2020.  Doors 7:00 pm Movie 8:00 pm  Tickets $10 Not Rated  1 hour 50 min.   

The Senate Theater and the Detroit Theater Organ Society present a screening of Paul Leni’s silent film, “The Man Who Laughs” (1928). Detroit Red Wings organist Lance Luce will provide organ accompaniment on the mighty 4/34 Wurlitzer theater organ!  Based on the novel by Victor Hugo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables), the story follows Gwynplaine, also known as the Laughing Man, famously portrayed  by Conrad Veidt. Now the star of a traveling freak show, Gwynplaine was disfigured  as a young child and forced to wear a permanent grin so that he would “laugh forever at his fool of a father”. Gwynplaine later finds love in the heart of a young blind woman, Dea (Mary Philbin), but will they be permitted to remain together or will they be forced apart?   The character of Gwynplaine, and more notably Condrad Veidt’s performance, serves as the primary inspiration for Batman’s greatest villain, the Joker. Further, despite being filmed as a romantic melodrama, Gwynplaine’s horrific appearance and the expressionistic tone of the film would greatly influence the Universal Classic Monster movies made from the 1930’s to the 1950’s. Green Brain Comics will be on hand with &ll your Joker related comics, graphic novels and merch.   After the film, organist Lance Luce will conduct a Q&A session and attendees will be invited to tour our organ chamber   Sponsored by the Knight Foundation.