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Der Letzte Mann (The Last Laugh) (1924)

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Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 4.1/5
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Movie Info

F.W. Murnau's German silent classic The Last Laugh (Der Letze Mann) stars Emil Jannings as the doorman of a posh Berlin hotel. Fiercely proud of his job, Jannings comports himself like a general in his resplendent costume, and is treated like royalty by his friends and neighbors. The hotel's insensitive new manager, noting that Jannings seems winded after carrying several heavy pieces of luggage for a patron, decides that the old man is no longer up to his job. The manager demotes Jannings to

PG, 1 hr. 17 min.

Art House & International, Drama

Carl Mayer

Nov 11, 2003

Cast

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (0) | DVD (9)

The 1924 film in which F.W. Murnau freed his camera from its stationary tripod and took it on a flight of imagination and expression that changed the way movies were made.

April 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comment
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

There are no titles in this film -- merely a few inserts to guide the viewer. And yet one is never in doubt as to the action of this admirable picture, which is a remarkable piece of direction, with exquisite lighting effects.

March 25, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The film would be famous just for its lack of titles, and for its lead performance by Emil Jannings, which is so effective that both Jannings and Murnau were offered Hollywood contracts and moved to America at the dawn of sound.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | Comment
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

One of Murnau's classic silent films features a great performance from Emil Jannings, who three years later became the first Best Actor Oscar winner.

June 4, 2011 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment

Karl Freund's ground-breaking and historically important cinematography can still take the breath away.

April 27, 2009 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | Comment
Empire Magazine

...can still pierce a hardened heart - especially these days, when demotions and layoffs have become a daily occurrence and the streets are full of forlorn former doormen.

March 29, 2009 Full Review Source: LarsenOnFilm | Comment
LarsenOnFilm

A Murnau silent classic featuring strong Emil Jannings performance.

March 14, 2009 Comment
Video-Reviewmaster.com

It ends with an unconvincing cop-out happy ending.

October 11, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comments (2)
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A striking vision of contemporary horror finally presented in its original version.

September 23, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

The Last Laugh can really best be understood as a horror story.

September 23, 2008 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | Comment
Slant Magazine

Walk a mile in my shoes

April 1, 2008 Full Review Source: JWR | Comment

Même après plus de 80 ans, The Last Laugh demeure un film qui ne vieillit tout simplement pas.

July 4, 2007 Full Review Source: Panorama | Comment

Widely regarded as an expressionist masterpiece.

August 29, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

One of the darkest commentaries (intra- and extratextually) on the cost of comfort and compromise in art and life.

April 19, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | Comment
Film Freak Central

I'll make the radical claim that losing around ten minutes would have made the film flawless. But it's almost made up for by that ending...

October 31, 2004 Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies | Comment

The film is notable for its smooth, moving, tracking camera and its complete lack of intertitles, making it a true universal experience.

March 16, 2004 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | Comment
Combustible Celluloid
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Der Letzte Mann (The Last Laugh)

a groundbreaking film in nearly every possible way and one of the finest achievements of the silent era. it's broadly played but flows beautifully and contains only one title card! magnificent!

June 19, 2008
rubystevens
Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

Great lighting and high contrast German silent film. It's a nice slice of life in 1924 Berlin. The famous director F.W. Murnau evokes many emotions. It's a work of art to look at. It feels really long and is sad. I felt sorry for the old walrus-moustached hotel doorman who lost his proud position.

November 12, 2010
YosemiteSamFan

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Der letzte Mann (DE)
  • The Last Laugh (Der letzte Mann) (UK)
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