Herbert Brenon's LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH ('28) Lon Chaney, Loretta Young MGM Silent

Description

Vintage original 27 x 38 in. (70 x 98 cm.) Swedish stone lithograph poster
for the classic 1920's circus-themed silent film drama,
LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH
, released in 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and
directed by Herbert Brenon
. Based upon the play by David Belasco and Tom Cushing, a
professional clown (Lon Chaney) and a self-indulgent count learn to help each other with their problems, but then become romantic rivals. The cast includes Bernard Siegel, Loretta Young, Cissy Fitzgerald, Lils Asther, Gwen Lee, Julie DeValora, Helena Dime, and Leo Feodoroff.
Printed for the film's original theatrical release in Sweden under the title
Skratta Pajazzo
,
the striking stone lithograph artwork,
with its circus theme, colors, and deco presentation, features a huge image of
Lon Chaney
in costume as "Tito" as he performs in the bigtop while musical notes flow from a trombone. Professionally linen-backed, it is in fine+ condition with very minor restoration along portions of the fold lines.
"Tito" was supposedly Lon Chaney's favorite film role. Stuntman and acrobat Alfred Adeline doubled for Chaney at the rope slide scene. The song, "Laugh Clown Laugh", with music by Ted Fio Rito and lyrics by Sam Lewis and Joe Young, did much to make this movie a hit when it rose to #1 on the 1928 hit parade. Director
Herbert Brenon reportedly loved to pick-on and ridicule a 14-year-old Loretta Young (who turned 15 on day 18 of the 45-day shoot) in her first big role, but was civil with her whenever Chaney was present on the set. Chaney noticed this and never left her side, even if his character wasn't needed for shooting that day. He directed her throughout the shoot and became her surrogate father on the project. "I shall be beholden to that sensitive, sweet man until I die", said Young of Chaney.