When the unnamed doorman in The Last Laugh is demoted to bathroom attendant, his world collapses. At the end of the film he is estranged from his family, fellow workers and neighbors and only the night watchman gives him succor. Is this film a tragedy in the Aristotelian sense (that is, does he fall because of some tragic character flaw?)? Is it an indictment of the society of the time? A study of the inevitable effects of aging? Or, to put the point another way, whose fault is the doorman's downfall?
In the 1924 film The Last Laugh, the doorman’s downfall is not simply due to his job loss but is also a reflection of the excessive value placed on wealth and societal status by the society he lives in. The plot revolves around a beloved doorman at a prestigious hotel who is demoted to a washroom attendant as his aging body can no longer handle the strain of carrying heavy luggage. However, losing his job was much more than a financial burden. When being fired it can be expected for friends to sympathize and assist one another, however, the opposite occurs in this film. His community no longer supports him, in fact, they humiliate and degrade him. The profession he held dear was much greater than a job, it’s what gave him dignity and respect from others. The doorman, already somber, spirals into developing an obsession to reclaim his title. He goes as far as to steal his old uniform, a symbol of his former stature. However, the damage is irreparable; the entire community is aware of his demotion. This craving for wealth, for a high societal role, cannot be put upon solely the doorman, as he is the outcome of a society that values class above humanity. This circumstance is illustrated well in the shot of him surrounded by laughing heads, all bullying him. Overwhelming shame and fear now dominate the doorman's mind, which is what leads him to cascade into delusion, mania, and finally depression. The doorman even attempts to cope by intoxicating himself. These intense emotions stem entirely from a social structure that places high value on an individual's worth based on their wealth and economic status. In the original ending, he’s completely crushed, lying miserably on the washroom floor. Losing his status as the doorman was detrimental solely because of a society that deeply values fortune and class.
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ReplyDelete"Die Letze Mann" 's picturing of the old, unnamed doorman who is demoted to bathroom attendant shows the indictment of society at the time and even now. First, it shows the introduction of a new generation - the 1920s, especially for Germany, was a new era, where a generation then untouched by war entered into the manpower pool. This made it clear that the population would quickly replace the old, rugged, PTSD filled population of the previous generation, one with scars from gas weapons, centuries of warfare, of tragedy. This is a clear indictment of society, but also the inevitability of aging. As one ages, one's senses decrease. This is shown by the dullness of all the colors and his sight before him getting rich.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it becomes quite clear as the story continues that society replaces him, and everything else, with shinier, newer, faster items. When he becomes richer, the cars suddenly improve, the roads are seemingly better, even the people shinier and happier. Before, however, he was sad, miserable, and old, like everything around him. This clearly shows that society does not have place for old people, which usually people see as leeches that do not contribute to society, instead sucking up its resources via welfare etc. However, society does have use for rich people, as tey can bring out positive change through throwing money at any problem. This makes them clearer supporters of society, and at the end of the film, the way the film is shown clears up.