MovieChat Forums > Der blaue Engel (1930) Discussion > The Blue Angel + The Last Laugh

The Blue Angel + The Last Laugh

posted 15 years ago by BillieDove
2 replies | jump to latest

Both basically tell the downfall of Emil Jannings, which is so basic a plot it can't possibly be called "stealing" or "plagiarism". But that final shot - Jannings, lighted only by the flashlight of the concierge who let him in, sits, having lost all of his honor, as the camera gets further and further away - reminiscent of something? Isn't it the exact same shot as in The Last Laugh?

Anyway. Two magnificent shots - two magnificent films. It would be hard for me to pick a favourite. I just wanted to know if anyone else had noticed.

We're the heirs to the glimmering world.

[–] wearyourlove 11 years ago

But doesn't The Last Laugh end with Jannings's character redeemed and now a wealthy man? His character arcs in both films are undeniably similar, even identical, but their respective endings provide a crucial difference.

[–] Beau_Buffet (324) 6 years ago

There are two endings to The Last Laugh. The one you're talking about was a request by the studio, who wanted a happy ending. Murnau did it begrudgingly. The two versions exist.