directors. Italian director Sergio Corbucci's 1966 version, L'Uomo che ride (released in the United States as The Man Who Laughs, but in France as L'Imposture des Borgia) substantially altered the plot and setting, placing the events in Italy and replacing the court of King James II with that of the House of Borgia. Jean Kerchbron directed a three-part French television film adaptation, L'Homme qui rit, in 1971. Philippe Bouclet and Delphine Desyeux star as Gwynplaine and Dea; Philippe Clay appeared as Barkilphedro. Jean-Pierre Améris directed another French-language version, also called L'Homme qui rit, which was released in 2012. It stars Marc-André Grondin and Christa Théret, with Gérard Depardieu as Ursus. Horror-film historian Wheeler Winston Dixon described the 1961 film Mr. Sardonicus, also featuring a character with a horrifying grin, as "The Man Who Laughs ... remade, after a fashion". However, its director, William Castle, has stated the film is an adaptation of "Sardonicus", an unrelated short story by Ray Russell originally appearing in Playboy. References Bibliography Notes External links 1928 films American black-and-white films American historical drama films American historical romance films American silent feature films American romantic drama films Cultural depictions of Anne, Queen of Great Britain German Expressionist films Films about blind people Films set in the 1680s Films set in the 1700s Films set in England Films based on French novels Films based on works by Victor Hugo Films directed by Paul Leni Universal Pictures films 1928 romantic drama films Melodrama films Films about clowns American films about revenge American historical adventure films Films produced by Carl Laemmle Films about corruption Films about surgeons British romantic drama films German romantic drama films British historical adventure films American adventure drama films British silent feature films German adventure drama films British historical romance films British historical drama films German silent feature films German historical adventure films British adventure drama films Fiction set in the 18th century Fiction set in the 17th century 1920s American films 1920s British films Silent romantic drama films Silent adventure films Silent American drama films 1920s German films Cultural depictions of James II of England