History Literature / TheManWhoLaughs

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The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing DownerEnding. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured Creator/ConradVeidt as the main character, whose [[SlasherSmile freakish grin]] and [[MonsterClown clown-like]] appearance was the primary inspiration for ComicBook/TheJoker, which came full circle in the 1989 {{Short Story}} "Literature/TheManWhoLaughs" (by Creator/StuartMKaminsky), first published in ''Literature/TheFurtherAdventuresOfBatman''. Referenced again in 2005 with "Batman: The Man Who Laughs", the sequel to ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne''.

The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing DownerEnding. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured Creator/ConradVeidt as the main character, whose [[SlasherSmile freakish grin]] and [[MonsterClown clown-like]] appearance was the primary inspiration for ComicBook/TheJoker, which came full circle in 2005 with "Batman: The Man Who Laughs", the sequel to ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne''.

* {{Expy}}: Just to name a few...

*** Victor apparently likes to reuse his characters .

* NotBloodSiblings : ursus raises both Gwynplaine and Dea together. They are like brother and sister, but also fall in love.

%%* AristocratsAreEvil: And how.

%%* CheshireCatGrin

%%* CorruptBureaucrat: Barkilphedro, who drives the plot.

%%* DisabledLoveInterest: Dea

%%* TheGrotesque: Gwynplaine, obviously.

%%* TheHeroDies: Implied at the end of the book.
%%* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Queen Anne Stuart.

%%* LonelyAtTheTop : As Gwynplaine finds out.

%%* NotBloodSiblings : Gwynplaine and Dea grew up together.

%%* RagsToRiches : Gwynplaine.

The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing DownerEnding. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured Creator/ConradVeidt as the main character, whose [[SlasherSmile freakish grin]] and [[MonsterClown clown-like]] appearance was the primary inspiration for Creator//TheJoker, which came full circle in 2005 with "Batman: The Man Who Laughs", the sequel to ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne''.

* FreakyIsCool: Gwynplaine is understandably unhappy with his freakish appearance, but Dea loves that no matter how bad things are, he is always smiling when she "sees" his face.
** Also, Josiana thinks he's sexy.

** Also a PunnyName with Homo (who's a wolf): "Man is a wolf to man".

** Not to mention a direct inspiration for SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker.

** In fact, that's where the original movie ends.

* [[spoiler: TheHeroDies / DrivenToSuicide]]: Implied at the end of the book.

* AristocratsAreEvil: And how.

* BlindAndTheBeast
* BreakTheCutie: Dea and Gwynplaine's idealism.
* CheshireCatGrin

* CorruptBureaucrat: Barkilphedro, who drives the plot.

* DisabledLoveInterest: Dea

* GlasgowGrin: Gwynplaine's smile likely applies.
* TheGrotesque: Gwynplaine, obviously.
* HappilyEverBefore: Invoked in the movie.

* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Queen Anne Stuart.
* IdleRich : how most aristocrats are represented.

* LonelyAtTheTop : As Gwynplaine finds out.

* NotBloodSiblings : Gwynplaine and Dea grew up together.
* TheNounWhoVerbed: The title.

* RagsToRiches : Gwynplaine.

* StarcrossedLovers: Dea and Gwynplaine. At least in the novel...
* TeamDad: Ursus.

The eponymous protagonist, Gwynplaine, bears a face disfigured by torture into a [[GlasgowSmile permanent smile]]. As a child, it was done to him in order to punish him for his nobleman father's offense to the king. One night, after being abandoned in the snow, Gwynplaine wanders aimlessly, seeking shelter. He comes across the corpse of a woman who had frozen to death underneath a dead man hanging from a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbet gibbet]]. In her arms, he finds a still living, blind baby girl. Eventually, Gwynplaine comes to the home of the charlatan [[MeaningfulName Ursus]] and his wolf companion [[MeaningfulName Homo]]. Ursus has pity upon the two orphan children and takes them in.

The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing DownerEnding. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured [[LooksLikeCesare Conrad Veidt]] as the main character, whose [[SlasherSmile freakish grin]] and [[MonsterClown clown-like]] appearance was the primary inspiration for SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, which came full circle in 2005 with "Batman: The Man Who Laughs", the sequel to ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne''.

[[caption-width-right:278:His love is real, but his smile is not.]]

* ChekhovsGun: The bottle who was left in the sea when the ship sank at the start of the book, is found years later, and reveals Gwynplaine`s heritage.

[[quoteright:278:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TMWL.jpg]]

* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:Dea dies]]. [[spoiler:Gwynplaine (apparently) drowns himself]]. This is not the case, however, in the movie, which has a much more upbeat ending.

** In fact, that's where the movie ends.

** Ursus - [[LesMiserables Valjean]]

** Ursu - [[LesMiserables Valjean]]

* CeshireCatGrin

The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing DownerEnding. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured [[LooksLikeCesare Conrad Veidt]] as the main character, whose [[SlasherSmile freakish grin]] and [[MonsterClown clown-like]] appearance was the primary inspiration for SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, which came full circle in 2005 with "Batman: The Man Who Laughs", the sequel to BatmanYearOne.

A 1869 Creator/VictorHugo novel.

A new, French adaptation of the film will be released in Christmas 2012, starring Gerard Depardieu as Ursus.