FW Murnau’s ‘The Last Laugh’
Emil Jannings plays a doorman is proud beyond all reason of his position, and even prouder of his uniform, with its gold braids and brass buttons, its wide shoulders, military lapels and comic opera cuffs. Positioned in front of the busy revolving door, he greets the rich and famous and is the embodiment of the great hotel’s traditions–until, in old age, he is crushed by being demoted to the humiliating position of washroom attendant. What’s left when the clothes that make the man are stripped away? Will he he have little to look forward to but death? – Or, will he have, the last laugh? Silent Film with live accompaniment by Marta Waterman.
