In Janning'sa celebrated role one observes the dexterity of expression and the range of emotions of the obese and demoted doorman who descends to a position of lowered recognition but then recovers the lost honor (deriving from the cult of the uniform's decorum) along with a sense of reciprocity. Murnau conjures a metropolitan milieu in dazzling tracking or medium shots, along with close-ups on the plethoric doorman.
Review of The Last Laugh
