History Film / TheLastLaugh

''The Last Laugh'' (''Der letzte Mann'') is a 1924 German SilentMovie directed by [[Creator/FriedrichWilhelmMurnau F.W. Murnau]]. Emil Jannings, who later won the first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Actor, plays a doorman at a fancy Berlin hotel. The doorman takes great pride in his job, in the hotel, and in the fancy uniform that he gets to wear. However, he is old for a doorman, and one day he comes to work and finds out that another employee has been given his job. The former doorman is demoted to washroom attendant. Humiliated, he tries to conceal this from his neighbors and family.

Has a place on the RogerEbertGreatMoviesList. Ebert's review is [[http://www.ebertfest.com/two/last_laugh_rev.htm here]].

* DeusExMachina / HappyEnding: Just when the doorman is in the depths of despair, the happy ending comes out of nowhere -- he inherits a large sum of money from a millionaire who dies in the hotel bathroom. The only title card in the film lampshades this, actually apologizing for the ending and stating that in the real world, the only thing the doorman would have to look forward to is death. Sources differ on whether the ending was a result of ExecutiveMeddling or was a bit of satire by Murnau.

* WeddingDay: The doorman's daughter gets married.

'''''The Last Laugh''''' (''Der letzte Mann'') is a 1924 German SilentMovie directed by [[Creator/FriedrichWilhelmMurnau F.W. Murnau]]. Emil Jannings, who later won the first UsefulNotes/AcademyAward for Best Actor, plays a doorman at a fancy Berlin hotel. The doorman takes great pride in his job, in the hotel, and in the fancy uniform that he gets to wear. However, he is old for a doorman, and one day he comes to work and finds out that another employee has been given his job. The former doorman is demoted to washroom attendant. Humiliated, he tries to conceal this from his neighbors and family.

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: The German title ''Der letzte Mann'' translates into English as "The Last Man." Certainly a more downbeat title.

!!This film provides examples of:

* CompletelyDifferentTitle: The German title ''Der letzte Mann'' translates into English as "The Last Man". Certainly a more downbeat title.

* DeusExMachina / HappyEnding: Just when the doorman is in the depths of despair, the happy ending comes out of nowhere--he inherits a large sum of money from a millionaire who dies in the hotel bathroom. The only title card in the film lampshades this, actually apologizing for the ending and stating that in the real world, the only thing the doorman would have to look forward to is death. Sources differ on whether the ending was a result of ExecutiveMeddling or was a bit of satire by Murnau.

* EpicTrackingShot: Murnau and cameraman Karl Freund did things that were extraordinary for 1920s cinema. The opening shot is a tracking shot from an elevator through the hotel lobby and out the door, accomplished by putting the camera in a wheelchair. For another shot, Freund and his camera were suspended in mid-air.

'''''The Last Laugh''''' (''Der letzte Mann'') is a 1924 German SilentMovie directed by [[Creator/FriedrichWilhelmMurnau F.W. Murnau]]. Emil Jannings, who later won the first AcademyAward for Best Actor, plays a doorman at a fancy Berlin hotel. The doorman takes great pride in his job, in the hotel, and in the fancy uniform that he gets to wear. However, he is old for a doorman, and one day he comes to work and finds out that another employee has been given his job. The former doorman is demoted to washroom attendant. Humiliated, he tries to conceal this from his neighbors and family.

* ChewingTheScenery: Actor Emil Jannings in his, especially in his portrayal of a severe HeroicBSOD.

'''''The Last Laugh''''' (''Der letzte Mann'') is a 1924 German SilentMovie directed by F.W. Murnau. Emil Jannings, who later won the first AcademyAward for Best Actor, plays a doorman at a fancy Berlin hotel. The doorman takes great pride in his job, in the hotel, and in the fancy uniform that he gets to wear. However, he is old for a doorman, and one day he comes to work and finds out that another employee has been given his job. The former doorman is demoted to washroom attendant. Humiliated, he tries to conceal this from his neighbors and family.

* WeddingDay: The doorman's daughter gets married.

'''''The Last Laugh''''' (''Der letzte Mann'') is a 1924 German silent film directed by F.W. Murnau. Emil Jannings, who later won the first AcademyAward for Best Actor, plays a doorman at a fancy Berlin hotel. The doorman takes great pride in his job, in the hotel, and in the fancy uniform that he gets to wear. However, he is old for a doorman, and one day he comes to work and finds out that another employee has been given his job. The former doorman is demoted to washroom attendant. Humiliated, he tries to conceal this from his neighbors and family.

''The Last Laugh'' (''Der letzte Mann'') is a 1924 German silent film directed by F.W. Murnau. Emil Jannings, who later won the first AcademyAward for Best Actor, plays a doorman at a fancy Berlin hotel. The doorman takes great pride in his job, in the hotel, and in the fancy uniform that he gets to wear. However, he is old for a doorman, and one day he comes to work and finds out that another employee has been given his job. The former doorman is demoted to washroom attendant. Humiliated, he tries to conceal this from his neighbors and family.

!!Tropes:

* NoNameGiven: For any of the characters.

* DeusExMachina / HappyEnding: Just when the doorman is in the depths of despair, the happy ending comes out of nowhere--he wins the lottery. The only title card in the film lampshades this, actually apologizing for the ending and stating that in the real world, the only thing the doorman would have to look forward to is death. Sources differ on whether the ending was a result of ExecutiveMeddling or was a bit of satire by Murnau.

* SilenceIsGolden: This film has a claim to be the most silent movie ever made. Not only does it not have dialogue, it doesn't even have any ''title cards'', except for one very close to the end. The story is told almost entirely through pictures, except for that one title card, a newspaper headline, and an inscription on a cake.

* DeusExMachina / HappyEnding: Just when the doorman is in the depths of despair, the happy ending comes out of nowhere--he wins the lottery. The only title card in the film lampshades this, actually apologizing for the ending and stating that in the real world, the only thing the doorman would have to look forward to is death.

* DeuxExMachina / HappyEnding: Just when the doorman is in the depths of despair, the happy ending comes out of nowhere--he wins the lottery. The only title card in the film lampshades this, actually apologizing for the ending and stating that in the real world, the only thing the doorman would have to look forward to is death.