He Who Gets Slapped
| He Who Gets Slapped | |
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 theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Victor Sjöström |
| Produced by | Louis B. Mayer |
| Written by | Play: Leonid Andreyev Screenplay: Victor Sjöström Carey Wilson |
| Starring | Lon Chaney Norma Shearer John Gilbert |
| Music by | William Axt |
| Cinematography | Milton Moore |
| Editing by | Hugh Wynn |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) | November 9, 1924 {US) |
| Running time | 80 minutes (orig.) 71 minutes (TCM) |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
He Who Gets Slapped is a 1924 film starring Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, and John Gilbert.[1][2] It was directed by Victor Sjöström. The film is based on the Russian play Тот, кто получает пощёчины ("He Who Gets Slapped", transliterated as Tot, kto poluchayet poshchechini) by playwright Leonid Andreyev, which was published in 1914 and in English, as He Who Gets Slapped, in 1922. The Russian original was made into a Russian movie in 1916.
The film is significant for many reasons, foremost being that it was the first production to start filming in the newly formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was not, however, MGM's first released movie, as the release was postponed until the Christmas season when higher attendance was expected. The film was highly profitable for the fledgling MGM, and was critically hailed upon release. This film was also the first to feature Leo the Lion as the mascot MGM logo. Leo the Lion first appeared in the logo for Goldwyn Pictures Corporation in 1917, and the logo passed to MGM when the companies merged.
The film was important in the careers of Chaney, Shearer, Gilbert, and Sjöström. Some sources claim that Béla Lugosi plays the uncredited role of a clown, although this is based solely on the resemblance of a particular actor to Lugosi.
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[edit] Plot
Paul Beaumont is a scientist who labored for years alone to prove his radical theories on the origin of mankind. Baron Regnard becomes his patron, enabling him to do research while living in his mansion. One day, Beaumont announces to his beloved wife Marie and the baron that he has proved all his theories and is ready to present them before the Academy of the Sciences. He leaves the arrangements to the baron. However, after Beaumont goes to sleep, Marie steals his key, opens the safe containing his papers, and gives them to the baron. It is clear that Marie and the baron are lovers.
On the appointed day, Paul travels to the Academy with the baron. He is aghast when the baron, instead of introducing him, takes credit for Paul's work himself. After he recovers from the shock, Paul confronts him in front of everyone, but the baron tells them that Paul is merely his assistant and slaps him. All of the academicians laugh at his humiliation. Paul later seeks comfort from his wife, but she brazenly admits she and the baron are having an affair and calls him a clown. Paul leaves them.
Five years pass by. Paul is now a clown calling himself "HE who gets slapped", the star attraction of a small circus near Paris. His act consists of him getting slapped every evening by other clowns, and includes a parody of the event in the preceding paragraph.
Another of the performers is Bezano, a daredevil horseback rider. Consuelo, the daughter of the impoverished Count Mancini, applies to join his act. Bezano falls in love with Consuelo, as does Paul. Consuelo and her father, however, are planning to restore the family's fortunes with a marriage to her father's wealthy friend.
One night, during HE's performance, he spots the baron in the audience. The baron goes backstage and begins flirting with Consuelo, which she does not like. The next day, Consuelo receives jewelry from the baron, but she rejects it.
When her father leaves for a meeting with the baron, Bezano takes Consuelo out to the countryside for a romantic meeting, where they declare their love for each other. Meanwhile, Count Mancini convinces the reluctant baron that the only way he can have Consuelo is by marrying her. The baron discards the heartbroken Marie, leaving her with a check.
Later, HE admits to Consuelo he too is in love with her. She thinks he is kidding and laughingly slaps him. They are interrupted by the baron and the count, who inform Consuelo she will marry the baron after the night's performance. When HE tries to interfere, he is locked in an adjoining room, where an angry lion is kept in a cage. He moves the cage so that, when he carefully opens it, only the door to the next room prevents the lion from escaping. HE then reenters the other room through the only other entrance (making sure to lock it behind him) and reveals his identity to the baron. HE threatens the baron, but the count stabs him with a sword.
The baron and count try to leave, but finding the main entrance locked, open the side door, releasing the lion. The animal kills first the count, then the baron. However, the lion tamer shows up and saves HE from the same fate. HE goes on stage and collapses. He assures Consuelo he is happy and that she will be happy, before dying in her arms.
[edit] Differences from the play
The Andreyev play on which the film is based ends with Consuelo unknowingly taking poison from a wine glass, which Paul Beaumont finishes off. Yet in the film only Paul dies. MGM was always averse to unhappy endings in their films, even at this early date. Prior to the filming of the movie, the play had been performed on Broadway with actor Richard Bennett in the Chaney role.
[edit] Cast
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ Variety film review; November 12, 1924, page 24.
- ^ Harrison's Reports film review; November 8, 1924, page 178.
[edit] External links
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