The Last Laugh

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Han G Mar 4, 2018 Arguably Murnau's best work.

Theodore R Sep 18, 2017 *Spoiler Warning* This movie does a great job at getting you to sympathize with the main character by showing the struggles he has to face. Due to all the poor treatment he undergoes, it makes it a deeply powerful film. I also liked the body movement the doorman made. As he worked in the bathroom, he would often slouch and move around slowly. This was a great way of showing his misery. I also liked that the film had no title cards (except for one near the end, which I'll get to soon). I prefer silent films which feature no title cards as they're usually more immersive experiences since they use visuals and facial expressions to tell their story. Also, the camerawork was impressive. In the opening scene, the camera shows the doorman from a low angle. This highlights his superiority. After he gets fired, however, that style is gone. I also liked how scenes from the hotel were juxtaposed with scenes from the bathroom. Additionally, several facial close-ups made me feel like I was viewing the world from the doorman's point of view. As for the single title card near the end, it serves as a prelude to a major tonal shift with the movie. I thought about it for quite some time as I wasn't sure what to think of it. However, I have to admit it was flawed. It served as a deus ex-machina. Not only that, but it was drawn out to be much longer than it needed to be. The restaurant scene was also over-the-top in the way of the food served. Since Murnau appeared to apologize for it with the title card, it's clear that it's not meant to be taken seriously and that it's a comical ending. However, this is another flaw since the film which came before it was serious. It didn't fit the movie in my opinion. That might not have been too spoiler-y, but close enough. Despite the ending, however, I still enjoyed this movie quite a bit. It's essential viewing for silent film fanatics. See more

Kylo P May 11, 2017 A masterpiece. A masterwork from the Master. It feels so fresh and powerful, it's not surprising that it is an innovative cinema, this is visible to the naked eye. German cinema of the 20s was so powerful and enriching for the cinema. I sometimes wonder what cinema would have been liked without this influence. It's just make me sad that cinema doesn't evolve anymore. This story of a man obsessed with his uniform that he values more than anything else is simple but highly effective and make a strong statement of anti militarist sentiment or any other institutions that empower people with all that nonsense. See more

George S Feb 16, 2017 A poor but proud doorman loses his prestigious job on the same day his daughter weds, leading him into a shameful road of theft and regret as his neighbors revel in his misery. As the title proclaims, though, he gets his comeuppance when a rich man dies in the bathroom he's now attending. Although the ending seems a hurried afterthought, this Murnau classic has both revolutionary camera work & emotional merit. See more

Hagrid W Dec 20, 2016 A Murnau silent classic featuring a strong Emil Jannings performance.

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The Last Laugh

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