Given the prevalence of the plague (cholera?) that threatens the upper-middle-classes in the hotel, as well the lower classes in Venice at the time - the great leveller - , this scene shows the tongue to those who think they are exempt, because of their wealth. The minstrel is death.
I have been looking for this for years, thanks! I kept searching for 'death in venice minstrels'. An incredible scene - jolly yet sinister, and Bogarte's expression ...
there are tons of videos of street performers around the world here in youtube. in the united states, france, brasil, china, england no performers like this would do that. but here in japan, i have seen a toothless guy playing the guitar like him on tv. so i had a strange feeling to see the performer in totally different culture. i dont mean whether the japanese performer copied him or not. but it looks interesting that they have similar laughmaker.
TY Geoff, how dramatic is this laughter, how scary the guitarist face is, toothless, I feel like he is laughing at my Hollywood Los Angeles failure. I feel like this guitarist is the FAILURE itself.
Menestrello(guitarist) is death himself, so scary. He is singing the song The Laughing Policeman, version Charles "Jolly" Penrose. You can see the face model was italian comedian Ettore Petrolini, in monologue "Gastone". Also seems as italian comic "Toto".
Iconic, even. I could even imagine him with the same makeup and wearing the same clothes, playing Puck in a Midsummer Night's Dream; dangerous, mischievous and creepy.
THE LAUGHING POLICEMAN Charles Penrose I know a fat old policeman He's always on our street. A fat and jolly red-faced man He really is a treat. He's too kind for a policeman He's never known to frown. And everybody says He is the happiest man in town!. He laughs upon point duty He laughs upon his beat. He laughs at everybody When he's walking in the street. He never can stop laughing He says he's never tried. But once he did arrest a man And laughed until he cried! Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. His jolly face is wrinkled And then he shut his eyes. He opened his great big mouth It was a wonderous size! He said "I must arrest you!" He didn't know what for. And then he started laughing Until he cracked his fat old jaw. Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. So if you chance to meet him While walking 'round the town. Shake him by his fat old hand And give him half a crown. His eyes will beam and sparkle He'll gurgle with delight. And then you'll start him laughing With all his blessed might! Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Oh ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho. Ha ha ha ha ha ha. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hI1nPd7hezM.html
