JOURNAL ARTICLE

He Who Gets Slapped.

  • Published In: Cineaste, 2026, v. 51, n. 2. P. 68 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Abidor, Mitchell 3 of 3

Abstract

This review focuses on the 1924 silent film *He Who Gets Slapped*, directed by Victor Seastrom and starring Lon Chaney. The film centers on a disgraced intellectual turned circus clown, known only as HE, whose act involves being repeatedly slapped for the amusement of others, symbolizing themes of humiliation and human cruelty. The screenplay, adapted from a play by Leonid Andreyev, explores misanthropy through HE’s fall from scholarly promise to degraded performer, with Seastrom’s direction and Chaney’s transformative performance emphasizing the film’s dark emotional and moral weight. Flicker Alley’s restored Blu-Ray edition includes multiple musical scores and related shorts, enhancing the historical and artistic context of this early Metro Goldwyn Mayer production. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Cineaste. 2026/03, Vol. 51, Issue 2, p68
  • Document Type:Film/TV Criticism and Review
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0009-7004
  • Accession Number:192132013
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