The Last Laugh (1924)

8.0Not Rated101 minDirector: F. W. Murnau

1924 film directed by F. W. Murnau

The Last Laugh (German: Der letzte Mann, transl. The Last Man) is a 1924 German silent film directed by German director F. W. Murnau from a screenplay written by Carl Mayer. The film stars Emil Jannings and Maly Delschaft.

Stephen Brockmann summarized the film's plot as, "a nameless hotel doorman loses his job". It is a cinematic example of the Kammerspielfilm or "chamber-drama" genre, which follows the style of short, sparse plays of lower middle-class life that emphasized the psychology of the characters rather than the sets and action. The genre tried to avoid the intertitles (title cards) of spoken dialogue or description that characterize most silent films, in the belief that the visuals themselves should carry most of the meaning.

The film was voted number 11 on the prestigious Brussels 12 list at the 1958 World Expo. In 1955, the film was remade starring Hans Albers.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Last Laugh about?
The Last Laugh (1924) — Emil Jannings is the doorman of the elegant Atlantic Hotel. He is proud of his uniform and function, and respected by his community. When he reaches the old age, he has difficulties to carry trucks and suitcases. The hotel manager decides to change his function to washroom attend
Is The Last Laugh based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Last Laugh scary?
Content rating: Not Rated. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is The Last Laugh (1924) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex