Sacrifice

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 572, 26 January 1929, Page 25

Sacrifice

LON CHANEY DRAMA “Laugh Clown, Laugh” at Regent “ GREATER love hath no man . . U That is the theme of “Laugh Clown,.Laugh,’’coming soon to the Regent with Lon Chaney in the leading role. It is the story of an old-fashioned circus player who gives up his life for the happiness of his ward. Chaney excels himself in this picture—a poignant tragedy of show life. • T AUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH,” is a film with an unhappy ending, but the nobility of its sentiment will create a deep and satisfying impression.

It lias drawn tears from countless thousands in the Old World, aud left them with a still deeper admiration for the Man of a Thousand Faces.

Without doubt Chaney has produced a masterpiece a photoplay that will be remembered a s one of the great successes of this actor’s career. The cast includes Nils Asther, who plays the lover, and Loretta Young in the part of the girl. Simonetta is an orphan girl adopted by Tito, a clown. When she reaches womanhood he falls in love with her, but she has already given her heart to Luigi, a nobleman. On the eve of her marriage Simonetta learns Tito’s real feelings and goes to him, saying that she loves him and wishes to marry him. Tito is not deceived, and clears the way by killing himself in the circus ring. As the curtain rolls down the little boys in the audience are laughing at the funny clown who has fallen from

he trapeze and is pretending to be dead. . . . Chaney’s acting carries everything before it and forms the brilliant centre piece of the picture. The direction of Herbert Brenon is masterly, and the photography is flawless. The majority of the scenes depict life in an old-time circus and lead the onlookers behind the scenes and into the lives of the players. It goes without saying that Lon Chaney’s admirers will flock to see “Laugh, Clown, Laugh,” but it is a picture everyone can admire and enjoy.