Watch He Who Gets Slapped: Ghoulish Edition

He Who Gets Slapped: Ghoulish Edition is a classic movie from the silent era of film, released in 1924. It stars the legendary Lon Chaney, known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces," and Marc McDermott. The film is directed by Victor Sjöström and is based on a play by Russian author Leonid Andreyev, which was adapted for the screen by Carey Wilson.

The movie takes place in Paris in the early 20th century and tells the story of Paul Beaumont (Lon Chaney), a brilliant scientist who has devoted his life to studying the behavior of clowns. He creates a theory that clowns are actually the embodiment of sadness and tragedy, using their comedic routines to mask their inner pain. However, when he presents his findings to a group of fellow scientists, they mock his ideas and humiliate him.

Feeling betrayed and disillusioned, Paul leaves his wife and his former colleagues and joins a traveling circus as a clown named He Who Gets Slapped. The circus is owned by the wealthy and sadistic Baron Regnard (Marc McDermott), who takes pleasure in humiliating Paul in front of the audience. Paul becomes the Baron's puppet and endures his abuse in exchange for the Baron's financial support of his research.

As He Who Gets Slapped, Paul performs his routine every night, slapping himself in the face and falling to the ground while the audience laughs. His act becomes increasingly desperate and violent, as he uses his pain to create a connection with his audience.

Things become more complicated when Paul falls in love with Consuelo (Norma Shearer), a beautiful and kind-hearted trapeze artist in the circus. Consuelo has feelings for Paul as well, but she is also the object of the Baron's affections. The Baron becomes jealous of Paul and tries to destroy his relationship with Consuelo.

The film explores themes of betrayal, humiliation, and love. It is a dark and atmospheric movie that showcases Lon Chaney's incredible range as an actor. He delivers a powerful and nuanced performance as Paul, capturing both his intelligence and his pain. His transformation from the confident scientist to the broken-down clown is both heartbreaking and mesmerizing.

Marc McDermott is also excellent as the cruel and sadistic Baron. He exudes a sense of menace and power that makes his character both compelling and repulsive. Norma Shearer provides a ray of light in the darkness, bringing warmth and humanity to her role as Consuelo.

The movie is beautifully shot, with striking visuals and moody lighting. The circus setting is captured with great attention to detail, showcasing both the glamour and the seediness of the world of entertainment.

In conclusion, He Who Gets Slapped: Ghoulish Edition is a must-see for fans of classic cinema. It is a powerful and haunting film that deals with timeless issues of human nature. Lon Chaney's performance is a true tour-de-force, and the movie as a whole is a testament to the artistry and technical proficiency of the silent film era.

He Who Gets Slapped: Ghoulish Edition is a 2020 horror movie with a runtime of 71 hours.