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

as Angelo Bello / Astorre Manfredi

Lisa Gastoni

as Lucrezia Borgia

Ilaria Occhini

as Dea

Edmund Purdom

as Cesare Borgia

Gino Pernice

as Galeazzo

Ferdinando Poggi

as Umberto

Linda Sini

as Margherita

Gianni Musy

as Paolo Orsini

Nino Vingelli

as Ursus

Livia Contardi

Reviews

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