The Last Laugh
- Emil Jannings: Hotel Concierge
- Maly Delschaft: his niece
- Max Hiller: her groom
- Emilie short, his aunt
- Hans Unterkirchner: Managing Director of the hotel
- Hermann Vallentin: Guest in Hotel
- Emmy Wyda: Thin neighbor
- George John: night-watchman
The last man is a German film by Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau. He had on 23 December 1924 Berlin Ufa - Palast am Zoo premiere.
Action
An aging hotel porter performs his duties at the door of " Hotel Atlantic " in Berlin. In his splendid uniform, with handsome mustache and a jovial smile, he there to greet the guests. As when unloading a heavy suitcase he faints one day, he will be transferred from the hotel director with reference to his old age in the men's room. A younger man takes his place. The porter can not cope with this humiliation. At night he stole his old uniform and now leads a double life: during the day he does sad his service in the hotel toilet. After work, he runs secretly the uniform on to his family and neighbors audition, it was all like before. But the dizziness soon flies on and family and neighbors turn away from him. The world of porters finally collapses, only the hotel the night watchman still looks after him.
The story gets at the end - after an intermediate title in which the "author " is semi- ironic distancing of happy endings - a positive turn when a hotel guest to the men's room, dying the former porter bequeathed his entire fortune. The once humiliated can now come as a sovereign, good-humored and generous guest in the "Atlantic" and invite the night watchman to a feast, what the rest of the hotel guests who have read the story in the newspaper have fun, delicious.
Interpretation
With this film, Murnau provides a parable about the vicissitudes of life after the pattern of the medieval wheel of fortune, "Today, You're the First, respected by all, a minister, a general, perhaps even a prince - you know what you are tomorrow! "it says in the opening credits. The special position of this first is not pointed out in " The Last Man " through a military uniform, as one might expect in Berlin in the 1920s, but by the livery of the porter of a luxury hotel. She gives him but a similar self-esteem: the evening strutting the porter in his splendid livery home to the working class neighborhood where he is admired by all.
Due to the loss of the livery of social decline is symbolized. The old doorman is demoted to toilet guards; ridiculed by the neighbors and disowned by his relatives he retires, to the " last man " has become, in the basement back. But the wheel of fortune continues to spin. Thanks to a rich client assets left behind the toilet man is a much sought-after hotel guest. This introduced through the single intertitles the whole film sequel should not be construed as been translated happy ending. This conclusion leads rather, but with the opposite sign, the initial question continues: Who is the last of today may be the first again. Constantly turns the fate of his bike
Camera work
" The Last Man " is in the development of film technology and art a milestone addition to the assimilation of essential elements of expressionism as dream sequences with transitions and special effects beyond contact director Murnau and cinematographer Karl Freund in " The Last Man " for the first time in more mature form of what was called " unchained camera ". The opening scene, as the camera in the elevator through various floors and then moves up to the revolving door through the lobby of the hotel, could even be considered as the first opening sequence shot in film history. Although the moving camera had already been used in earlier silent films, it therefore appeared in " The Last Laugh " a prominent role, because they took over the subjective point of view of the porter and thus his feelings gave special expression.
Special
This is one of the few full-length silent films that do almost entirely without intertitles. The producers of the film could also be convinced it is difficult, because there had been until then only two known attempts, both of which were unsuccessful ( ' shards ' in 1921 and ' New Year's Eve ' in 1924, both directed by Lupu Pick).
The other lack of intertitles falls particular by Emil Jannings ' excellent game art and also excellent camera work only when the previously mentioned single intermediate title appears. Murnau, friend and Jannings were by the film, which is the highlight of the German expressionist silent film, world famous.
Others
The poster artist Theo Matejko created for the guests of honor of the premiere of the film a portfolio of lithographs.
Reconstruction in 2003
The prominent by Murnau expert Luciano Berriatúa got from the original three versions reconstruction of " The Last Man " was premiered on February 8, 2003 as part of the Murnau retrospective at the Berlinale. The incomplete original music by Giuseppe Becce this was completed and orchestrated by the German composer Detlev Glanert. In addition, there are other settings by Peter Schirmann, Timothy Brock, the youngest ever, by Florian C. Reithner.
Reviews
" A hotel doorman falls for toilet man down, a fate he can not cope. His ordeal describes the Expressionist silent film [ ... ] artistic director with masterful paintings and an excellent match to the charges. "
Remake
1955 was directed by Harald Braun, a remake of the same name with a slightly modified action. Leading roles played in this version Hans Albers, Camilla Spira, Joachim Fuchs Berger and Romy Schneider.