the Last of the men ( DER letzte Mann ) is a German Film , carried out by Friedrich-Wilhelm Murnau, produced in 1924.

Synopsis

The gatekeeper of the large Atlantic hotel is a man important and admired of all as the splendid one attests some delivered of which it is covered. But, one day the director of the hotel decides that the old gatekeeper made his time and announces to him without care that the moment came for him to yield the place. He strips it delivered which is all his raison d'être and relegates it to the maintenance of the toilets. Cut down, humiliated, the poor fellow even returns the evening to seize in hiding-place clothing and to be covered with it in order not to appear decreased in front of people of his district. But a shrew who was pilot scene reveals imposture and everyone turns it into ridiculous. Still more humiliated, he flees and takes refuge in the toilets of the hotel where he remains prostrate. A billionaire occurs then who crumbles, victim of an heart attack. To thank it for having accompanied it in its last moments, this last bequeaths all its fortune to the old man whom hypocritical and changeable crowd admires again.

Data sheet

• Title: the Last of the men
• original Title: DER letzte Mann
• Realization: Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau
• Scenario: Carl Mayer
• Director of the photography: Karl Freund
• Decorations: Robert Herlth and Walter Röhrig
• Production: Universum Films AG
• Music Giuseppe Becce
• Country: Germany
• 6 acts, 390 plans
• First: December 23rd, 1924 with the UFA Palast amndt Zoo
• Left in the USA under the title The Last Laugh , on January 27th, 1925
• Lasted: 74 min approximately (2036 meters, 8 reels)

Distribution

• Emil Jannings : the gatekeeper
• Maly Delschaft: his/her daughter
• Hans Unterkircher: the director
• Georg John: the night watchman

Anecdotes

External bond

• Critical film club Caen