He Who Gets Slapped
| He Who Gets Slapped | |
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theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Victor Sjöström |
| Produced by |
Victor Seastrom Irving Thalberg (uncredited) |
| Screenplay by | Victor Seastrom Carey Wilson |
| Based on |
Тот, кто получает пощёчины by Leonid Andreyev |
| Starring |
Lon Chaney Norma Shearer John Gilbert |
| Music by | William Axt |
| Cinematography | Milton Moore |
| Edited by | Hugh Wynn |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (as A Metro-Goldwyn Picture) |
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Release date
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Running time
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80 mins. (original) 71 mins (TCM) |
| Country | United States |
| Language |
Silent English intertitles |
| Budget | $172,000 |
| Box office | $881,000 |
He Who Gets Slapped is a 1924 American silent drama film starring Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, and John Gilbert, and directed by Victor Sjöström. The film is based on the Russian play Тот, кто получает пощёчины ("He Who Gets Slapped", transliterated as Tot, kto polučájet poščóčiny) by playwright Leonid Andreyev, which was published in 1914 and in English, as He Who Gets Slapped, in 1922. The Russian original was made into a Russian movie in 1916.
He Who Gets Slapped was the first production that began filming under the production of the newly formed Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was not, however, MGM's first released movie, as the release was postponed until the Christmas season when higher attendance was expected. The film was highly profitable for the fledgling MGM, and was critically hailed upon release. It was also the first film to feature Leo the Lion as the mascot MGM logo. Leo the Lion first appeared in the logo for Goldwyn Pictures Corporation in 1917, and the logo passed to MGM when the companies merged.
The film was important in the careers of Chaney, Shearer, Gilbert, and Sjöström.
Paul Beaumont (Lon Chaney) is a scientist who labored for years alone to prove his radical theories on the origin of mankind. Baron Regnard (Marc McDermott) becomes his patron, enabling him to do research while living in his mansion. One day, Beaumont announces to his beloved wife Marie and the Baron that he has proved all his theories and is ready to present them before the Academy of the Sciences. He leaves the arrangements to the Baron. However, after Beaumont goes to sleep, Marie steals his key, opens the safe containing his papers, and gives them to the baron. It is clear that Marie and the Baron are lovers.
On the appointed day, Paul travels to the Academy with the Baron. He is aghast when the Baron, instead of introducing him, takes credit for Paul's work himself. After he recovers from the shock, Paul confronts him in front of everyone, but the Baron tells them that Paul is merely his assistant and slaps him. All of the academicians laugh at his humiliation. Paul later seeks comfort from his wife, but she brazenly admits she and the baron are having an affair and calls him a clown. Paul leaves them.
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