Is This Guy The Original Inspiration for Batman's Joker?
Tell me you wouldn't want to invite that dude over for dinner this weekend. This may belong in the "Things You Already Know File", but for those who don't ... Conrad Veidt was a German actor whose role in the 1928 film The Man Who Laughs is said to be one of the main inspirations for the appearance of the Joker. In the film, Veidt plays a character named Gwynplaine whose father offends King James II and is sentenced to death via iron maiden (the torture device, not the metal band). Gwynplaine, because of his father's actions, is then forced to have a surgeon permanently disfigure his face so that -- as a title card states -- he'll be condemned "to laugh forever at his fool of a father." It's a freaky premise, and Roger Ebert once said of the film that it's a "a melodrama, at times even a swashbuckler, but so steeped in Expressionist gloom that it plays like a horror film."
Anyway, as the legend goes, Bill Finger -- co-creator of Batman -- is said to have brought this picture to Bob Kane, and that Veidt's creepy grin -- along with a Joker playing card -- is what kicked the whole thing off. That playing card, however, was given to Kane by Jerry Robinson, who also claims to have created the Joker. Either way, judging from that image of Veidt up above, I think it's pretty obvious that mug had a lot to do with one of the greatest villains of all time, and, honestly, I think it's pretty awesome that all these years later the comic book character is still relevant enough to earn an actor an Oscar. So thanks Mr. Veidt. You sure as hell look creeptacular, but you did good. Real good. Check out more images from the original 1928 film below.
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[via LaughingSquid]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-26-2009 @ 12:20PM
Andy said...
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's a fact.
Handsome guy...lot of teeth.
Here's another fun one:
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20090325/ENT/903250327
The inspiration for the cartoon 'Hall of Justice'
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3-26-2009 @ 12:34PM
Dante said...
It totally depends on who you hear the legend from. Jerry Robinson swears up and down that it's just coincidental, and says so whenever the topic comes up.
According to him, he worked out the Joker character's look, then Bill Finger brought "The Man Who Laughs" to Robinson's attention because of the similarities.
Who knows. Comic creators from that time are protective and defensive when it comes to what they worked on, and rightly so given how they were treated back then.
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3-26-2009 @ 12:37PM
stuntman_james said...
I do believe that that name does appear in Dark Knight somewhere....either as the name the joker uses at Gordon's funeral or another character. Have to check to see if I am right.
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3-26-2009 @ 12:57PM
MCW said...
Anybody seen his movie? I wonder if he smiles the entire time? That could certainly lead to a sore throat ;)
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3-26-2009 @ 1:20PM
ML said...
Jack Pierce created an appliance that forced Mr Veidt to grin like that, which I understand was painful. It's been a long time since I saw the film. There is a moment in the book during which Gwynplain fleetingly forces his expression out of a smile; I believe this is also in the movie, but my memory is vague. Lon Chaney Sr was originally slated for the role but had departed for MGM by that time. The film is available from Kino ... I really should go back for a second look.
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3-26-2009 @ 2:27PM
David Musto said...
Really dumb movie with the immortal line, "Where are you taking me, Homo?"
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3-27-2009 @ 11:29AM
Kris said...
I love this film; I don't see how the similarity in look can be a coincidence, though it's possible. What's especially amusing to me is that the character bears no resemblance at all to the Joker; he's so gentle as to be passive, and during the entire film takes very little action on his own behalf. But I love it for Veidt's expressive acting despite the appliance. His eyes do all the talking.
As to the Homo line... It's the dog/wolf's name, punningly named for "man."
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