One of the highlights of Ebertfest this year (and we’re not even done yet) is getting a chance to see the 1924 silent film He Who Gets Slapped on the gigantic Virginia Theatre screen, surrounded by a packed house, and accompanied by live musicians. It’s how it is meant to be seen. Lon Chaney is magnificent. Norma Shearer is beautiful and natural, and John Gilbert? Well, watching his performance, you can totally understand why that guy was such a huge huge deal. Even wearing Harlequin tights, he never seems ridiculous. But it’s Lon Chaney’s film.
OMG… this gif!!! Consider it stolen… or returned to its rightful place as my Facebook cover photo.
Isn’t it the best?? I tripped over it online and was thrilled!
I also loved the logo sequence in which the MGM lion just kind of looked around in a befuddled way. It was almost as if he knew he should be doing the roar, even though the film was silent. LOL
hahahaha I know! The silent baffled lion.