He Who Gets Slapped

thumb He Who Gets Slapped is a 1924 film about a scientist who flees his tragic past to become a circus clown. Directed by Victor Sjöström. Written by Carey Wilson, based on a play by Russian playwright Leonid Andreyev. Victor Seastrom's production of the famous stage play by Leonid Andreyev.  (taglines) Paul Beaumont/HE He slapped me, Marie. I would have killed him, but they laughed - laughed as if I were a clown. You forget, gentlemen - this is a circus - love must wait - - the performance must go on! I say serious things - and people laugh at me! Marie Beaumont How stupid people are - to laugh at a clown who lets himself be slapped. Tricaud Over a hundred slaps last night, HE - you lucky fellow! Soon you'll be getting famous! But you know what they like - there's nothing makes people laugh so hard as seeing someone else get slapped! Title card In the grim comedy of life, it has been wisely said that the last laugh is the best... Laughter - the bitterest and most subtle death to hope... A strange thing, the heart of a man - that loves, suffers, and despairs - yet has courage to hope, believe - and love - again. Years had passed - Paul Beaumont was forgotten - but the laugh was still his. For the brilliant scientist had, with a supreme gesture of contempt, made himself a common clown - In a little circus near Paris, he amused the idle, the ignorant and vicious, with an act of his own fancy - under the expressive name of "HE - Who Gets Slapped" - Five years before, Tricaud had hired the strange clown who desired only to be slapped - and now each night he proudly counted his slaps - and the laughs... Paul Beaumont lived - to laugh at life. He laughed at his wife and the Baron - and left them to the doubtful joy of each other's society. What is it in human nature that makes people quick to laugh when someone else gets slapped - whether the slap be spiritual, mental, or physical? Dialogue Marie Beaumont: What have you given me - that I should love you? You with your silly face and stupid books! [slaps him] Fool! Clown! Paul Beaumont: Fool! Clown! Baron Regnard: I hate clowns! Paul Beaumont: I hate Barons! Taglines Victor Seastrom's production of the famous stage play by Leonid Andreyev. Cast Lon Chaney — Paul Beaumont Norma Shearer — Consuelo John Gilbert — Bezano Tully Marshall — Count Mancini Marc McDermott — Baron Regnard Ford Sterling — Tricaud Harvey Clark — Briquet Paulette Duval — Zinida External links 0014972 He Who Gets Slapped he_who_gets_slapped He Who Gets Slapped 94478 He Who Gets Slapped Category:American drama films Category:Films based on plays Category:Silent films Category:Circus films Category:1924 American films Category:Films about clowns