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| Laugh, Clown, Laugh | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Herbert Brenon Ray Lissner (assistant director) |
| Written by | Elizabeth Meehan (screenplay) Joseph Farnham (titles) |
| Based on | Laugh, Clown, Laugh 1923 play by David Belasco and Tom Cushing (play) Ridi, Pagliaccio by Fausto Maria Martini (play) |
| Produced by | Irving Thalberg |
| Starring | Lon Chaney Loretta Young |
| Cinematography | James Wong Howe |
| Edited by | Marie Halvey |
| Music by | Theme "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" Ted Fiorito (music) Lewis and Young (lyrics) |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Jury-Metro-Goldwyn (England) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 73 minutes (8 reels) |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Silent Version Sound Version (Synchronized) (English Intertitles) |
Laugh, Clown, Laugh is a 1928 American silent drama film starring Lon Chaney and Loretta Young (her film debut). The movie was directed by Herbert Brenon and produced by Irving G. Thalberg for MGM Pictures. A sound version of this film was released in the second half of 1928 and featured a synchronized musical score with sound effects.[1] The film was written by Elizabeth Meehan, based on the 1923 Broadway stage production Laugh, Clown, Laugh by David Belasco and Tom Cushing, which in turn was based on the 1919 play Ridi, Pagliaccio by Fausto Maria Martini.[2][3]
Stills exist which show Chaney in his clown make-up.[4][5][6] The sets were designed by Cedric Gibbons. The film was in production from December 19, 1927, to February 2, 1928, and cost $293,000 to make. The worldwide box office gross was $1,102,000.[7]
Laugh, Clown, Laugh is readily available today on DVD. The existing print, however, is not 100% complete; it is missing reel #4, but the missing footage does not severely impact the story.
An alternate happy ending—wherein Tito survives his fall, Simonetta marries Luigi, and they all remain close friends—was shot at the studio's insistence in case some studios preferred that ending, but the footage no longer exists.[8]
- ^ The BFI film archive has a 35mm nitrate print of about 875 feet of the sound version of the film: https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20150032578
- ^ "Laugh Clown Laugh Sheet Music Theme Song". Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List".
- ^ "Laugh Clown Laugh (1928)".
- ^ "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List".
- ^ "Laugh Clown Laugh Sheet Music Theme Song". Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 175. ISBN 1-879511-26-6.
- ^ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 176. ISBN 1-879511-26-6.