Laugh, Clown, Laugh

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Laugh, Clown, Laugh

1928

1h 5m

Romance

Drama

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2 Reviews

92%

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500+ Ratings

A clown named Tito Beppi (Lon Chaney) adopts orphaned Simonetta (Loretta Young), and they begin to travel and perform in the circus together. As Simonetta grows into a beautiful young woman, Tito eventually falls in love with her. Though the girl actually has eyes for the young and noble Count Ravelli (Nils Asther), she pretends to want the kindly clown because she is unwilling to break his heart. When Tito realizes that he stands in the way of her happiness, things turn tragic.

Robert E. Sherwood

LIFE

Screen actors who impersonate clowns are usually such bum comedians... Tito, the hero of Laugh, Clown, Laugh, is another of those movie mountebanks who are convincingly tragic but never in the least bit funny.

Oct 4, 2021

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The fifteen-year-old Loretta Young (only 14 at the time of shooting) is 45-year-old Lon Chaney's leading lady.

Rated: B

Oct 25, 2006

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john p

A bit slow, despite being short, but has some very emotionally engaging scenes

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

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Terry S

Worth watching to experience the beauty and natural talent of emerging star Loretta Young.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/02/22

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Audience Member

The best romance movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

How can you go wrong with a Lon Chaney circus picture? Lon plays a kind hearted circus clown who adopts an abandoned child. The film then picks up years later and the child has now grown into a young woman. Things get complicated (and a tad creepy to modern eyes) when the young woman, played by a 15-year-old Loretta Young, falls in love with a rich man and Lon wants to tell her that he loves her, but doesn't want to complicate her love of the rich man by making her feel obligated to stay with him. Chaney is great playing tragic figures and is wonderful here. And I've never been a huge fan of Loretta Young, but even at 15, she definitely exhibits star quality. Overall, this one isn't a classic, but it's a solid and entertaining melodrama that I can honestly say I didn't know how it would end.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

This is a real tearjerker. Based on the Pagliacci tale of a clown who is broken hearted that the object of his affection refuses his romantic overtures Lon Chaney delivers a performance that emotes without words. An amazing performance that turns a run of the mill movie into a real gem. Highly recomended.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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Audience Member

amazing chaney performance-again!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Herbert Brenon

Director

Lon Chaney

Tito Beppi

Bernard Siegel

Simon

Loretta Young

Simonetta

Cissy Fitzgerald

Giancinta

Nils Asther

Count Luigi Ravelli

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Synopsis

A clown named Tito Beppi (Lon Chaney) adopts orphaned Simonetta (Loretta Young), and they begin to travel and perform in the circus together. As Simonetta grows into a beautiful young woman, Tito eventually falls in love with her. Though the girl actually has eyes for the young and noble Count Ravelli (Nils Asther), she pretends to want the kindly clown because she is unwilling to break his heart. When Tito realizes that he stands in the way of her happiness, things turn tragic.

Director: Herbert Brenon
Producer: Herbert Brenon, Irving Thalberg
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Meehan, Joseph Farnham, Elizabeth Meehan
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre: Romance, Drama
Runtime: 1h 5m