Sunday Silents Presents: The Last Laugh (1924)

$6 MATINEE | (1924) | 1hr 27mins
Live piano accompaniment with Marta Waterman

Murnau’s silent film The Last Laugh tells the tragic story of a self-confident hotel doorman, brilliantly portrayed by Emil Jannings, who is demoted to lavatory attendant because he is considered ‘too old’. Janning’s entire identity is based on his position and especially on his uniform, which symbolizes power and respectability to his lower-middle-class community of family and friends. Proud of his position, responsibilities and uniform, and shocked by his demotion, humiliated, the old man struggles to carry on with his life. The question is: who will have ‘the last laugh’?

‘Sunday Silents’ is made possible by the generous support of: Jim DeMaio State Farm Insurance Agent, New Paltz