Laughter
“The emotion-swept romance of a modern woman who found that life without laughter is living death”
Synopsis
Zeigfeld Follies beauty Peggy marries an older man, C. Morton Gibson. Although she soon grows tired of their sedate life, she refuses the attentions of her longtime friend, the volatile sculptor Ralph Le Saint. When pianist Paul Lockridge arrives from Paris, he begs Peggy to run away with him to France, where they can share adventure and a full life -- but complications arise for Peggy when Gibson's attractive daughter visits.
Top Cast
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Nancy Carroll
Peggy Gibson
Fredric March
Paul Lockridge
Frank Morgan
C. Mortimer Gibson
Glenn Anders
Ralph Le Sainte
Diane Ellis
Marjorie Gibson
Ollie Burgoyne
Pearl, Peggy's Maid
Leonard Carey
Benham, Gibson's Butler
Eric Blore
Party Guest in Angel Costume (Uncredited)
Charles Halton
Winslow, Gibson's Secretary (Uncredited)
Duncan Penwarden
Mr. Miller (Uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 24, 1930
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
- Screenplay & Story
- Donald Ogden Stewart, Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast, Douglas Z. Doty
- Original Score
- Vernon Duke
- Original Title
- Laughter
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
Donald Ogden Stewart, Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast, Douglas Z. Doty, Herman J. Mankiewicz
Vernon Duke
George J. Folsey
Helene Turner
Monta Bell
Department Leadership Roster
Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
Director
Helene Turner
Editor
Vernon Duke
Original Music Composer
George J. Folsey
Director of Photography
Monta Bell
Producer
Donald Ogden Stewart
Screenplay
Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast
Screenplay
Douglas Z. Doty
Screenplay
Herman J. Mankiewicz
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Laughter.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Laughter.
Pre-Code Hollywood
Pre-Code Hollywood films, 1929 to 1934.
Oscar Best Writing Nominees
Complete list of Oscar Best Writing Nominees
Oscars 1932
Nominees and selected films for the 4th Academy Awards (ceremony year 1932).
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Frequently Asked Questions About Laughter
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Laughter about?
Zeigfeld Follies beauty Peggy marries an older man, C. Morton Gibson. Although she soon grows tired of their sedate life, she refuses the attentions of her longtime friend, the volatile sculptor Ralph Le Saint. When pianist Paul Lockridge arrives from Paris, he begs Peggy to run away with him to France, where they can share adventure and a full life -- but complications arise for Peggy when Gibson's attractive daughter visits.
Who directed Laughter?
Laughter was directed by Harry d'Abbadie d'Arrast.
Who stars in Laughter?
The principal cast of Laughter includes Nancy Carroll, Fredric March, Frank Morgan, Glenn Anders, Diane Ellis.
When was Laughter released and how long is it?
Laughter was released in 1930 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for Laughter?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Laughter was composed by Vernon Duke.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Laughter?
Laughter holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).