Welcome to Public Domain Theater, your home for the wonderful world of films that have (in the United States, at least) fallen into the public domain, and are free for everyone to see!

This time around, we have one of those films that most people probably haven’t seen – probably couldn’t even tell you what it’s about, not really. But it has imagery that’s become an icon in the public consciousness. While not a horror movie itself, its makeup and set design set the template for Universal Studios’ famed gothic horror pictures of the 30’s and 40’s. And its legacy continues to this day, with its title character serving as visual inspiration for arch Batman villain, the Joker.

Yep, we’re talkin’ ’bout The Man Who Laughs. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, it’s a historical romance full of deceptions and love triangles and class conflicts and a bunch of legal troubles that probably made more sense in the book. The directing and cinematography are top-notch, and actor Conrad Veidt does an amazing job in the lead role, managing to bring pathos to the part despite the limited facial expressions the character is allowed. (And when you add in this is a silent movie, so they can’t convey emotion through their voice, either, it’s like some sort of bizarre actor’s challenge.)

And for our animated short, we’re returning to a big star we haven’t featured in a while: Felix the Cat, in “Land O’ Fancy”. It’s, broadly speaking, a spoof of Jack and the Beanstalk, but with the surreal animation common to these old Felix cartoons, with such bizarre sights as … you know what? I’m not gonna spoil it – the cartoon’s just six minutes long, check it out for yourself.

So whether you want to watch The Man Who Laughs or have a laugh with Felix the Cat, you can’t go wrong here at Public Domain Theater!

Opening Cartoon:

Feature Presentation: