He Who Gets Slapped (1924)
In the National Film Registry
•
1h 11m
Betrayal. Clown seeks solace, loves anew. Past haunts, vengeance sought. Tragedy unfolds.
He Who Gets Slapped (1924) stands as a testament to the artistic audacity of silent cinema's twilight years. This psychological thriller, directed by Victor Sjöström and starring the enigmatic Lon Chaney, pushes boundaries in its exploration of humiliation, betrayal, and redemption.
The film's narrative, based on a Russian play, unfolds with theatrical flair. Sjöström employs dramatic lighting and striking set design to create a world where emotions are writ large. Chaney's performance as a wronged scientist turned self-abasing clown is a masterpiece of physical and emotional expression, all conveyed without dialogue.
He Who Gets Slapped also experiments with form. The repetitive nature of the protagonist's stage act, where he endures constant slaps, becomes a haunting metaphor for his suffering. The film's dreamlike sequences further blur the line between reality and fantasy, leaving a lasting impact on the viewer's imagination.
Though a commercial success in its time, He Who Gets Slapped paved the way for a more introspective and psychologically complex form of storytelling in cinema. Its enduring legacy lies in its willingness to explore the darker corners of the human experience through the silent language of innovative filmmaking.
Up Next in In the National Film Registry
-
Humouresque (1920)
Young violinist escapes poverty through music but war shatters his dreams.
Humouresque, a 1920 silent drama, might seem like a typical Hollywood tearjerker on the surface. However, it holds a unique place in cinematic history for its innovative techniques.
Director Frank Borzage employed expre...
-
Interior New York Subway, 14th Street...
Witness the early days of this revolutionary transit system, a glimpse into 1905 New York life.
Filmed by G.W. Bitzer just seven months after the New York City subway's inauguration, Interior New York Subway, 14th Street to 42nd Street (1905) takes viewers on a novel journey beneath Manhattan's ...
-
In the Land of the Head Hunters (1914)
Kwakwaka'wakw chief's son battles sorcerer for love, showcasing both culture & fictional drama.
While a silent dramatization of Kwakwaka'wakw culture, In the Land of the Head Hunters (1914) breaks ground in several ways. It features an entirely Indigenous cast, a rarity for the time. The film in...
