The Man Who Laughs

This loose adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic shifts the story to Italy and back in time, with the deformed protagonist meeting Lucrezia Borgia instead of Queen Anne. Also, Gwynplaine is renamed Angelo (Jean Sorel) with his disfigurement represented by a single broad slash across his mouth, crude yet convincing. The story (not credited to Hugo) is a swashbuckler pitting the disfigured acrobat against the henchmen of the Borgias.

Cast

Jean Sorel

Angelo Bello / Astorre Manfredi

Lisa Gastoni

Lucrezia Borgia

Ilaria Occhini

Dea

Edmund Purdom

Cesare Borgia

Gino Pernice

Galeazzo

Ferdinando Poggi

Umberto

Linda Sini

Margherita

Gianni Musy

Paolo Orsini

Nino Vingelli

Ursus

Livia Contardi