History YMMV / TheManWhoLaughs

* AdaptationDisplacement: There are a number of people out there who don't even know the movie was based on a book.

* UglyCute: Gwynplaine.

* TheWoobie: Gwynplaine, Dea.

* VindicatedByHistory: The film was poorly received when it came out, mostly for [[ArtisticLiceseHistory historically inaccurate sets and costumes]], but is now considered a minor masterpiece of GermanExpressionism.

* VindicatedByHistory: The film was poorly received when it came out, mostly for [[CriticalResearchFailure historically inaccurate sets and costumes]], but is now considered a minor masterpiece of GermanExpressionism.

* VindicatedByHistory: The film was poorly revived when it came out, mostly for [[CriticalResearchFailure historically inaccurate sets and costumes]], but is now considered a minor masterpiece of GermanExpressionism.

* VindicatedByHistory: The film was poorly revived when it came out, mostly for [[CriticalResearchFaliure historically inaccurate sets and costumes]], but is now considered a minor masterpiece of GermanExpressionism.

* VindicatedByHistory: The film was poorly revived when it came out, mostly for [[CritialResearchFaliure historically inaccurate sets and constumes]], but is now considered a minor masterpiece of GermanExpressionism.

* BetterThanSource: The original movie's ending is preferred over the novel's ending. [[spoiler: Unlike the novel wherein, you know, the one where the protagonist and the love interest die, here they escape safely]].

* BetterThanCanon: The original movie's ending is preferred over the novel's ending. [[spoiler: Unlike the novel wherein, you know, the one where the protagonist and the love interest die, here they escape safely]].

* BetterThanCanon: The original movie. [[spoiler: Unlike the novel wherein, you know, the one where the protagonist and the love interest die]].

* Crowning MomentOfAwesome: "A king made me a clown! A queen made me a Peer! But first, God made me a man!!"
* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: From the 1928 film; Dea's joy at Gwynplaine's return after she believed he had left for good (he had only gone to visit Josiana) spurs him into finally going for broke and revealing his smile to her, through the touch of her hands. After a moment of shock, she proclaims, "God closed my eyes so that I could only see the real Gwynplaine." Gwynplaine's happy tears over her acceptance is rivaled by Ursus' joyful reaction of the newfound courtship.
* FunnyMoments: In the 2012 film, young Gwynplaine comes out beside Ursus during one of his shows and starts imitating his crazy gestures, thus attracting a crowd of people, and it takes a minute for the latter to notice him.

** Even more so, when you consider that Gwynplaine himself -- a wholly good character, was the inspiration for the Joker -- a wholly evil character who looks almost exactly like him.

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: From the 1928 film; Dea's joy at Gwynplaine's return after she believed he had left for good (he had only gone to visit the Duchess) spurs him into finally going for broke and revealing his smile to her, through the touch of her hands. After a moment of shock, she proclaims, "God closed my eyes so that I could only see the real Gwynplaine." Gwynplaine's happy tears over her acceptance is rivaled by Ursus' joyful reaction of the newfound courtship.

* BetterThanCanon: The movie. [[spoiler: Unlike the novel wherein, you know, the one where the protagonist and the love interest die]].

* {{Expy}}: Just to name a few...
** Ursu - [[LesMiserables Valjean]]
** Gwynplaine/Fermain - [[Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Quasimodo]]
** Dea - [[Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]] (well, ''somewhat'')
** Homo - [[Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Djali]]

* TearJerker: Where to start...? The whole damn story pretty much goes this way.

* TheWoobie: Gwynplaine.

* BetterThanCanon: The movie. [[spoiler: Unlike the novel wherein, you know, the one where the protagonist and the love interest dies]].

** Even more so, when you consider that Gwynplaine himself- a wholly good character, was the inspiration for the Joker- a wholly evil character who looks almost exactly like him.
* BetterThanCanon: The movie. [[supersecretspoiler: Unlike the novel wherein, you know, the one where the protagonist and the love interest dies.]]
* TearJerker: The whole damn story pretty much goes this way.
* TheWoobie: Gwynplaine.