He Who Gets Slapped

Plot

Paul Beaumont, a dedicated scientist, presents his groundbreaking discoveries about the origins of humanity to the Baron, who promises to help publish his work. Instead, the Baron steals Paul's research, claims it as his own, and runs away with Paul's wife, publicly humiliating him with a resounding slap. Devastated and broken, Paul abandons his identity and becomes 'HE,' a circus clown whose entire act consists of being repeatedly slapped by other performers, transforming his humiliation into spectacle. At the circus, he becomes infatuated with Consuelo, a beautiful horse rider, but learns her father intends to marry her to the wealthy Baron who destroyed Paul's life. The story culminates in a dramatic confrontation where Paul must choose between revenge and protecting Consuelo, ultimately sacrificing himself to save her from the Baron's predatory intentions while finding redemption in his final act.

Historical Background

Released in 1924, 'He Who Gets Slapped' emerged during the golden age of silent cinema, when American films were achieving unprecedented artistic sophistication and international influence. The Roaring Twenties was a period of rapid social change, technological advancement, and cultural transformation, with cinema becoming America's dominant entertainment medium. The film's themes of betrayal, humiliation, and redemption resonated deeply with post-World War I audiences grappling with changing social hierarchies and the psychological impact of modern life. The circus setting reflected the era's fascination with spectacle and the blurred boundaries between reality and performance. This period also saw the rise of the star system, with actors like Chaney becoming cultural icons. The film's exploration of scientific ambition and its potential for corruption mirrored contemporary debates about the ethical implications of scientific progress, particularly in the wake of World War I's technological horrors.

Making Of

The production of 'He Who Gets Slapped' represented a major collaboration between European artistic sensibility and American studio efficiency. Director Victor Sjöström brought his distinctive approach from Swedish cinema, emphasizing psychological realism and emotional depth. Lon Chaney, already famous for his transformative abilities, approached this role differently, focusing on internal suffering rather than physical deformity. The circus sequences required extensive preparation, with the cast spending weeks learning circus techniques from professional performers. The relationship between Chaney and co-star John Gilbert was initially tense due to their different acting styles, but they developed mutual respect during filming. Norma Shearer, then relatively new to films, impressed everyone with her natural performance, leading to her becoming one of MGM's most important stars. The film's most challenging scenes involved the repeated slapping of Chaney's character, which required precise choreography to maintain impact while ensuring safety. The production team developed special techniques using camera angles and sound effects (created off-screen) to enhance the violence of these scenes.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Milton R. Krasner and Percy Hilburn was groundbreaking for its time, employing innovative techniques to convey the psychological states of the characters. The circus sequences were shot with dynamic camera movements that captured the spectacle while maintaining focus on the emotional drama. The lighting design was particularly sophisticated, using shadows and highlights to emphasize the contrast between the public spectacle and private suffering of Chaney's character. The film employed German Expressionist influences in its use of distorted angles and dramatic shadows during the more intense psychological moments. The camera work during the slapping scenes used precise timing and angles to maximize impact while maintaining the illusion of violence. The color tinting of the film was carefully planned, with warm amber tones for the romantic scenes and cold blue tones for moments of isolation and despair. The cinematography successfully balanced the spectacle of the circus with the intimate psychological drama, creating a visual language that enhanced the film's themes without overwhelming the narrative.

Innovations

The film pioneered several technical innovations that would influence cinema for decades. The elaborate circus set construction was a major achievement, featuring a fully functional big top with complex rigging for aerial sequences. The makeup department, led by Lon Chaney himself, developed new techniques for creating the clown's appearance that could withstand the physical demands of repeated slapping scenes while maintaining consistency throughout filming. The film's use of multiple camera angles during action sequences was innovative for 1924, particularly in the circus scenes where cameras were positioned to capture both the audience perspective and the performer's point of view. The special effects team developed new methods for creating the illusion of repeated slapping without causing actual injury to the performers. The lighting techniques used to create the contrast between the bright circus atmosphere and the dark psychological moments were groundbreaking, employing newly developed lighting equipment that allowed for more subtle gradations of shadow and highlight. The film's editing, particularly in the climactic scenes, used cross-cutting techniques that were ahead of their time, building tension through parallel action.

Music

As a silent film, 'He Who Gets Slapped' was originally accompanied by live musical performances in theaters, with MGM providing a detailed musical cue sheet for theater organists and orchestras. The suggested score incorporated classical pieces by composers like Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff to emphasize the Russian origins of the source material, along with original compositions by William Axt. The music was carefully synchronized with the action, with specific motifs for different characters and emotional states. For modern releases, the film has been scored by various composers, with the most acclaimed being a 2002 orchestral score by Robert Israel that captures both the circus spectacle and the psychological drama. The musical accompaniment played a crucial role in conveying the film's emotional depth, particularly during scenes where Chaney's character experiences internal torment that couldn't be expressed through dialogue. The contrast between lively circus music and somber themes during the clown's performance created a powerful emotional dichotomy that enhanced the film's themes of suffering hidden behind spectacle.

Memorable Scenes

• The opening scene where the Baron publicly slaps Paul, transforming him from respected scientist to broken man in a single moment of humiliation
• The first circus performance where 'HE' is introduced, establishing his act of being repeatedly slapped and the audience's morbid fascination with his suffering
• The tender scene where HE teaches Consuelo's horse to respond to gentle commands, revealing his capacity for love beneath his hardened exterior
• The climactic confrontation in the circus ring where HE finally faces the Baron, choosing to save Consuelo rather than exact his revenge
• The final tragic scene where HE performs one last time, transforming his death into artistic expression and finding redemption in sacrifice

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics hailed 'He Who Gets Slapped' as a masterpiece of silent cinema. The New York Times praised it as 'a work of extraordinary power and emotional depth,' particularly commending Chaney's performance as 'one of the most moving and psychologically complex ever captured on film.' Variety noted that 'Victor Sjöström has brought European artistry to American cinema without sacrificing popular appeal.' Modern critics have reevaluated the film even more favorably, with many considering it one of the greatest silent films ever made. Film scholar Kevin Brownlow described it as 'a perfect fusion of European psychological drama and American popular entertainment.' The British Film Institute included it in their list of essential silent films, noting its 'unflinching exploration of human degradation and redemption.' Contemporary critics continue to praise the film's sophisticated visual storytelling and Chaney's nuanced performance, which transcends the limitations of silent film to convey profound emotional truth.

What Audiences Thought

The film was a tremendous commercial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 1924 and solidifying Lon Chaney's status as a major box office draw. Audiences were deeply moved by the story's emotional intensity and Chaney's powerful performance, with many reports of theater-goers weeping during the film's climax. The circus setting provided spectacular entertainment value while the psychological drama gave audiences intellectual and emotional substance, appealing to both popular and sophisticated tastes. The film's themes of betrayal and revenge resonated strongly with 1920s audiences, who were experiencing rapid social change and questioning traditional values. Word-of-mouth was overwhelmingly positive, with many viewers returning to see the film multiple times to appreciate Chaney's performance details. The success of 'He Who Gets Slapped' helped establish MGM as a studio capable of producing both artistic achievements and commercial hits, contributing to the studio's rise to dominance in Hollywood.

You Might Also Like