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The Last Laugh Reviews

1924

70
from 787 members

One of the most brilliant of all German Expressionist silent films, Murnau's THE LAST LAUGH uses a constantly moving and subjective camera to capture the emotional anguish of a man whose life is suddenly devoid of meaning. Because of his age, an elderly doorman at a hotel finds himself ignominiously demoted to washroom .. Read more

Starring	Emil Jannings, Kurt Hiller, Emelie Kurtz, Hans Unterkirchen
Director	F.W. Murnau
Genres	Drama, World Cinema

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Critic's review of The Last Laugh
View all critics' reviews (2)
- Ironic anecdote made important by its virtual abandonment of dialogue and whole-hearted adoption of the camera eye technique which gives some thrilling dramatic effects.
- 33072
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:43
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Most helpful member's review of The Last Laugh
View all members' reviews (14)
- - 17
  - 4
  One of the great silent pictures
  
  F W Murnau (1888 - 1931) was one of the masters of early German cinema, and two or three of his films have every right to be included in any top 100 selection ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 208809
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Film Flaneur
  - London
  - 19 Feb 2006 at 22:31
Most recent members' reviews of The Last Laugh
View all members' reviews (14)
- - 0
  - 0
  Oh dear
  
  I guess I am just not intellectual enough to enjoy this film. Although the camera work was superb and I liked the idea of the silent film without the story ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 878052
- - 1001FilMs
  - 11 reviews
  - Wiltshire
  - 29 Mar 2010 at 16:31
- - 0
  - 0
  The Last Laugh
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  F. W. Murnau's The Last Laugh is a joyful experience for any lovers of classic silent film with its extraordinary and ground-breaking camera work and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 848095
- - Jimi1138
  - 4 reviews
  - Swansea
  - 11 Jan 2010 at 22:22
- - 1
  - 0
  Notable landmark in Film-making
  
  1924: the date is all-important, as this historic film has been re-mastered to a deceptively excellent standard. Scenes--luxury hotel porter ushering guests ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 793724
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Picaro
  - 62 reviews
  - Bangor
  - 04 Aug 2009 at 19:16
- - 2
  - 0
  Eureka has the last laugh
  
  F.W. Murnau's 'Der Letzte Mann' is arguably one of the finest examples of German Expressionist film-making.
  
  I have owned the American ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 640034
- - Jacuzzi
  - 31 reviews
  - Birkenhead
  - 06 Oct 2008 at 21:16
- - 1
  - 0
  Almost perfect, but fell at the last hurdle.
  
  Great silent film from a great silent film director.
  
  The only problem I had with it is the ending ,which is a bit of wishful thinkingy/copout.
  <... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 522596
- - Robert Dawson
  - Cardiff,Wales.
  - 05 Feb 2008 at 21:51
- - 0
  - 0
  The Last Man
  
  A simple story told with some of the most complex and technically accomplished camera-work of the silent era. It's not on the same lofty level as Sunrise ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 445521
- - Spiderj
  - 20 reviews
  - Greater Manchester
  - 31 May 2007 at 19:45
- - 0
  - 0
  Little to look forward to but death.
  
  An landmark film whose inventive filming techniques would transform cinema. The Last Laugh introduced the subjective point of view camera and the depiction of a... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 278529
- - ChesterDent
  - 121 reviews
  - London
  - 23 Aug 2006 at 14:42
- - 0
  - 0
  Not a whole bundle of laughs
  
  When I think of Murnau, I think of horror and this film started off with such a seemingly banal slice of life that I thought I was going to be disappointed - ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 244023
- - barbi
  - 150 reviews
  - Salisbury
  - 14 May 2006 at 18:39
- - 17
  - 4
  One of the great silent pictures
  
  F W Murnau (1888 - 1931) was one of the masters of early German cinema, and two or three of his films have every right to be included in any top 100 selection ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 208809
- - Film Flaneur
  - London
  - 19 Feb 2006 at 22:31
- - 1
  - 1
  Effective but ultimately unsatisfactory
  
  I saw The Last Laugh when a film student, and decided to see it again after more than 10 years. The DVD has restored the film well; it retains its poignancy, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 196049
- - Paul Thompson
  - King's Lynn
  - 19 Jan 2006 at 14:35
View all members' reviews (14)

- - 17
  - 4
  One of the great silent pictures
  
  F W Murnau (1888 - 1931) was one of the masters of early German cinema, and two or three of his films have every right to be included in any top 100 selection ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 208809
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Film Flaneur
  - London
  - 19 Feb 2006 at 22:31
- - 5
  - 0
  simple story superbly told
  
  The story is very simple but told with all sorts camera tricks which raise the story rather than detract. Remember the scene in Citizen Kane when the camera &#... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 14952
- - Saty
  - Reading
  - 17 Aug 2004 at 08:09
- - 5
  - 1
  Simple story, complex filming
  
  The plot summary gives nearly everything away. There is also a subtext about how military uniforms can give immense authority which disappears when the uniform ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 143238
- - Zamy
  - 546 reviews
  - London
  - 23 Aug 2005 at 15:27
- - 3
  - 0
  Flawed Masterpiece of Silent Cinema
  
  Remarkable mainly for its revolutionary camera techniques and set design, this was directed by the legendary F W Murnau just 2 years after he made his all time ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 314984
- - alefish
  - Norfolk
  - 24 Nov 2004 at 19:15
- - 2
  - 0
  Eureka has the last laugh
  
  F.W. Murnau's 'Der Letzte Mann' is arguably one of the finest examples of German Expressionist film-making.
  
  I have owned the American ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 640034
- - Jacuzzi
  - 31 reviews
  - Birkenhead
  - 06 Oct 2008 at 21:16
- - 1
  - 0
  Almost perfect, but fell at the last hurdle.
  
  Great silent film from a great silent film director.
  
  The only problem I had with it is the ending ,which is a bit of wishful thinkingy/copout.
  <... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 522596
- - Robert Dawson
  - Cardiff,Wales.
  - 05 Feb 2008 at 21:51
- - 1
  - 0
  Notable landmark in Film-making
  
  1924: the date is all-important, as this historic film has been re-mastered to a deceptively excellent standard. Scenes--luxury hotel porter ushering guests ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 793724
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Picaro
  - 62 reviews
  - Bangor
  - 04 Aug 2009 at 19:16
- - 0
  - 0
  An art form
  
  For those of you who like their films to be works of art, this one's for you. It supports the view by some that cinema was the art form of the 20th century... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 195114
- - Cato
  - 554 reviews
  - Lydbury North
  - 17 Jan 2006 at 15:28
- - 1
  - 1
  Effective but ultimately unsatisfactory
  
  I saw The Last Laugh when a film student, and decided to see it again after more than 10 years. The DVD has restored the film well; it retains its poignancy, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 196049
- - Paul Thompson
  - King's Lynn
  - 19 Jan 2006 at 14:35
- - 0
  - 0
  Not a whole bundle of laughs
  
  When I think of Murnau, I think of horror and this film started off with such a seemingly banal slice of life that I thought I was going to be disappointed - ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 244023
- - barbi
  - 150 reviews
  - Salisbury
  - 14 May 2006 at 18:39

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- The Last Laugh
  
  One of the most brilliant of all German Expressionist silent films, Murnau's THE LAST LAUGH uses a constantly moving and subjective camera to capture the emotional anguish of a man whose life is suddenly devoid of meaning. Because of his age, an elderly doorman at a hotel finds himself ...