In the Origin of the "The Man Who Laughs," the joker is a young lad and a pathetic victim instead
of his usual role as a villain. In this moving melodrama he had a dual role, starring as both
Gwynplaine (The Man Who Laughs), and also as Lord Clancharlie, Gwynplaine's father, a Scottish
nobleman who has rebelled against King James II in 17th-century Britain. As Lord Clancharlie is
being placed for execution in the notorious "Iron Maiden," he asks what will be done with his son,
Gwynplaine. King James' cruel jester pulls the boys mouth apart in a grimace, and the king
understands that the young boy with a beaming, angelic smile will be given to a notorious band of
nomads, the Comprachicos.

The Comprachicos purposely disfigure the young boy by carving the corners of his mouth into a
fixed, hideous grin. As if what they have done turns into a bad Omen, the Comprachicos are exiled
from England, abandoning Gwynplaine in the English countryside during a severe snowstorm burning
his facial expression into a permanent one.

Plodding through the storm, the youngster comes across a baby girl in the arms of her frozen and
lifeless mother. Although the boy doesn't have any reason to perpetuate acts of kindness due to
his practically shattered spirit, his heart goes out to this young child, and he rescues her. As
he plods through the howling storm with the baby in tow, they are saved by a small traveling
troupe of actors who are led by kindly philosopher, Ursus. Ursus is horrified when he sees
Gwynplaine's disfigured face, and he realizes that the baby girl, Dea, is blind.

They are both adopted by the troupe, and years later Dea, has grown into a beautiful blind girl.
A romance of the heart, not of the eyes, develops between Gwyplaine and Dea. Gwynplaine, who has
now become a famous performing clown, is finally happy, and fate steps in when Gwynplaine discovers
he is heir to a peerage and is summoned back to London.

It is there that his life will take a fateful turn when the jester who had persuaded the king to
disfigure Gwynplaine and the queen, see an opportunity to continue their mind-twisted torture.

MAYBE THEN ALL WILL UNDERSTAND WHY JOKER LOST IT.