West during which conflict in the Ruhr was ended. As foreign minister, Stresemann pursued compromise rather than disagreement with the Allies. His policy, however, was strongly opposed by members of both the DNVP and the KPD .In 1924 the German government adopted a plan for German economic recovery prepared by the American financier Charles G. Dawes. The Dawes Plan attempted to coordinate German reparations payments with a program of economic recovery whereby Germany was required to make only limited payments until 1929. To assist with the recovery, the Reichsbank was founded, and foreign credit, mainly from the United States, was directed into Germany. As a result, between 1924 and 1929 German industry and commerce made exceptional progress, and both the standard of living rose. The Dawes Plan also provided for the removal of French and Belgian troops from Ruhr.As it can be seen the Last Laugh could be related to the German people closely during 1920 –23. For the German people, this period was one of the worst. They were at the peak of their power Europe was at their mercy, but they could not hold on to it and they lost it all (similar to the doorman). Furthermore, a treaty had been imposed upon the general public (by the young Weimer republic or the hotel manager in the film) that was deemed so unfair, ironically resembles the old man’s new job. But there is a glimpse of hope for the nation as the economy began to recover at the end of 1923 with the help of burrowing loan off America. I suppose this could well be related to the unusual happy ending of the film where he inherits the American millionaire. Also in way Murnau tries to imply USA as the new economical powerhouse.In summary, many German artists (including film makers) during this period were part of the expressionist movement. This expressionism was concerned with representing the immediate present. Expressionism deliberately simplified, abbreviated, and disto...
