L'Uomo Che Ride, 1966
Also known as: The Man Who Laughs (US), Avenger in Leather Mask (Swe)
Based on: The Man Who Laughs, Lucrece Borgia and who knows...
I try not to give personal comments about the films listed here, but in this case I have to - it sucks. Turner Classic Movies broadcasted it in the spring of 2001 and I watched it twice. Damn, artistic freedom is one thing, but replacing Homo with a wife!? And why give Gwynplaine the name Angelo? Did they only read the covers of the novel and - Oh, yeah - Hugo wrote something else about someone called Angelo - let's use that name instead... And that grin. Did the SFX guys use a shotgun when they made it? And where did they get the skills - in the days the story is set - to restore his face to that of an Adonis in the middle of the film? And who came up with the idea to let Dea be cured of her blindness?
This Italian adaptation is a mess, no doubt about it.
Seriously, TCM might run it again, so beware...
Released
1966
MGM (US)
Director
Sergio Corbucci
Cast
Jean Sorel
(Angelo)
Lisa Gastoni
(Lucrezia Borgia)
Linda Sini
(Dea)
Gianni Musy
