Vintage original 9 x 12 in. US sheet music from the 1920's circus-themed silent film drama, LAUGH, CLOWN, LAUGH, released in 1928 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Herbert Brenon.
Published in 1928 by Remick Music Corporation (NY), all of the pages have separated (3 double-sided pages) and are in overall fine- condition.
*"The song Laugh Clown Laugh, with music by Ted Fio Rito and lyrics by Sam Lewis and Joe Young, did much to make this movie a hit when it rose to #1 on the 1928 hit parade.
*"Laugh, Clown, Laugh is a 1928 American silent drama film starring Lon Chaney and Loretta Young (her film debut). The movie was directed by Herbert Brenon and produced by Irving G. Thalberg for MGM Pictures. The film was written by Elizabeth Meehan, based on the 1923 Broadway stage production Laugh, Clown, Laugh, by David Belasco and Tom Cushing, which in turn was based on a 1919 play Ridi, Pagliaccio by Fausto Maria Martini [it].
The theme song "Laugh, Clown, Laugh" was composed by Ted Fiorito (music) and Lewis and Young (lyrics). Stills exist that show Chaney in his clown make-up. The sets were designed by Cedric Gibbons. The film was in production from December 19, 1927, to February 2, 1928, and cost $293,000 to make. The worldwide box office gross was $1,102,000. Laugh, Clown, Laugh is readily available today on DVD. The existing print, however, is not 100% complete; it is missing reel #4, but the missing footage does not severely impact the story.
An alternate happy ending wherein Tito survives his fall, Simonetta marries Luigi, and they all remain close friends, was shot at the studio's insistence in case some studios preferred that ending, but the footage no longer exists."
*(source: Wikipedia)
*"Herbert Brenon reportedly loved to pick on and ridicule a 14-year-old Loretta Young (who turned 15 on day 18 of the 45-day shoot) in her first big role, but was civil with her whenever Lon Chaney was present on the set. Chaney noticed this and never left her side, even if his character wasn't needed for shooting that day. He directed her throughout the shoot and became her surrogate father on the project. "I shall be beholden to that sensitive, sweet man until I die, said Young of Chaney.
Circus performer Hilda Nelson, whose whole family were circus people/acrobats, taught Chaney to walk the wire and doubled for Loretta Young on the tightrope. All extant prints are missing reel 4."
*(source: IMDb)
SMB