The Last Laugh (1924)

I generally hate the soundtracks that accompany silent films, but I also don’t like watching them with no noise whatsoever. It’s quite the conundrum. F.W. Murnau is a master at directing silents though, so the soundtrack on this one generally faded into the background. I’ve wanted to watch more Emil Jannings after seeing The Last Command and he’s just as good here depicting the emotional desperation that a simple but proud doorman feels after being discharged from his prestigious post. So much is done with essentially no words. I do wish that the ending, taped on as it was, could have also featured the reactions of his family and neighbors who had earlier rejected him.