He Who Gets Slapped

This movie is insane. And Chaney's performance is inSANEly good. See what I did there? God I hate myself.

Although I liked this movie in general, I'm less impressed than I have been by the other Sjostrom films I've seen. All the clown imagery seems like a sure influence on Bergman (in particular Sawdust and Tinsel and In the Presense of a Clown) some of it is quite freaky and avant-garde. Beyond that, this is pretty much Lon Chaney's show, and he does a fine job, leaving the rest of the cast in the dust. The story is loaded with pathos, though rather predictable. A good solid film.

Bookended by a ridiculously maudlin prologue and finale, the movie nevertheless delivers good scenes in between. Sjöström is always cinematographically skilled, but here, aided by Chaney's and Shearer's good acting, he achieves some powerful content as well.

Humiliation. That's the topic, and Sjostrom wants to render the most supreme humiliations imaginable upon pliable superstar Lon Chaney. The result is, of course, over-the-top, but also modestly affecting thanks to Chaney really selling the performance. Also, clowns are scary. And right about the time that Chaney's character is laughing maniacally while feeding his would-be girlfriend's father to a lion, I'm thinking "this is one twisted movie."

The Lon Chaney show, featuring great direction from Sjöström and simple but incredibly effective tragic story. Shifts back and forth from comedy to drama effortlessly and through that creates a uniquely twisted tone that elevates the film.

this one is one of the best chaney movies i've seen thus by far, it surpasses all the others that have remained in the silent film goers vocabulary. there are still much better silent features out there, but you'll be hard pressed to find one with chaney starring.

Another visually impressive, dramatically engaging melodrama from Sjostrom. One moment in the opening felt overdone, but in exchange it has a truly excellent ending.

A great performance by Lon Chaney. Otherwise it's a bit too simplistic for its own good.

Jesus. This movie gets dark.

I love what Sjöstöm did with the clown sequences (and that little moment with Chaney alone when the lights go out), and Lon Chaney is great no matter what you give him to work with.

Feeling here is very strong, even if some of the feature doesn't seem quite arresting, or it seems like a very minor Sjostrom, as if he was being wasted. Nevermind, the ending is almost a classic, and very powerful, the feeling devastating. How is this achieved? For us fools, there's a mystery in Sjostrom.

Great look at what makes us as people relish in the nature of pain and misery in others. Of course we sympathize with Chaney's character as outsiders viewing him as a character in a film but I think the point of this is that if we were to be audience members seeing one of HE's shows we'd be right there with the rest of the crowd laughing at his pain. Maybe we've progressed as a society since the vaudeville days? But I'd reckon we haven't. Heartbreaking performance by Chaney.

Before Nicholson, before Ledger, before Phoenix, there was the original Joker: He Who Gets Slapped.

Strong performance by Chaney and impressive imagery whose overall impression is somewhat weakened by the predictable and simplistic nature of the story. Could be a grower.

An outstanding silent film that, like much of Sjostrom (here credited as the Americanized Seastrom), holds up incredibly well. Chaney Sr. is fantastic in a thought-provoking, tragic role. It's barely 70 minutes long but packs a punch right up until the operatic conclusion. It's listed at 95 minutes some places but I couldn't find that version if it exists, but I'd like to see it. The first film to include Leo the Lion in the MGM logo, and he plays a supporting role to boot. Great stuff.

A profound, riveting exercise into the despair of a miserable man.