He Who Gets Slapped | 1924 | Drama

Title: He Who Gets Slapped | 1924 | Drama Director: Victor Sjöström Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Starring: Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert, Ruth King, Marc McDermott, Tully Marshall Based on: Play *He Who Gets Slapped* by Leonid Andreyev Release Date: November 9 1924 Runtime: 72–95 minutes Format: Silent black and white Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Opening and scientist’s triumph 00:15:00 Betrayal and humiliation 00:30:00 Joining the circus 00:45:00 Life as a clown 01:00:00 Love triangle and confrontation 01:15:00 Revenge and tragic ending --- Summary: He Who Gets Slapped is a 1924 American silent drama about a brilliant scientist whose personal and professional life is destroyed when his discoveries and his wife are taken from him by a trusted associate. Crushed by betrayal and public humiliation, he abandons his former identity and becomes a circus clown known as “He,” performing an act in which he is repeatedly slapped for amusement. Within the circus world he falls for a bareback rider already in love with another man, and his struggle between vengeance, love, and self-worth culminates in a dramatic and tragic resolution. --- Background: Directed by Swedish filmmaker Victor Sjöström for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, He Who Gets Slapped was the first completed production of the newly formed MGM studio and became one of its early critical and commercial successes. The screenplay was adapted from Leonid Andreyev’s celebrated Russian play and helped establish the careers of Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, and John Gilbert. In 2017, the film was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry for its cultural and historical significance. --- Trivia: He Who Gets Slapped was based on a Russian play that had been successfully staged on Broadway before adaptation to film. The film marked MGM’s first production under its new corporate identity. Lon Chaney’s performance as the tortured clown is regarded as one of his most memorable silent roles. The film entered the public domain on January 1, 2020. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: November 9 1924 Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #HeWhoGetsSlapped #LonChaney #NormaShearer #SilentFilm #MGM #1924Film #Drama #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain