[1] The film was written by Elizabeth Meehan, based on the 1923 Broadway stage production Laugh, Clown, Laugh by David Belasco and Tom Cushing, which in turn was based on the 1919 play Ridi, Pagliaccio by Fausto Maria Martini.

One day the now-teenaged Simonetta (Loretta Young) encounters Count Luigi Ravelli (Nils Asther), a wealthy man who falls madly in love with her, but upon seeing that he already has a girlfriend, she rejects him.

While Simonetta is breaking her engagement, Tito and Simon begin rehearsing some new material for their "Flik and Flok" act.

Tito does not believe Simonetta's love is genuine, but that it is just pity she feels for him and at the same time, he knows that, as her adopted father, it would be immoral to have her become his wife.

[citation needed] These plays were all based on the 1891 opera I Pagliacci (The Clowns), by Ruggero Leoncavallo, the principal aria of which has the lyrics, "Ridi, Pagliaccio!"

[citation needed] As a trouping comic stage actor in his youth, Chaney would have been acquainted with clown performers of lesser-known fame.

In interviews near the end of her life, she expressed her gratitude toward Chaney for his kindness and guidance, and for protecting her from director Brenon's sometimes harsh treatment.

The film was directed by Herbert Brenon, and was stunningly photographed by James Wong Howe, probably the finest cinematographer to work on a Chaney picture.

Combined with a radiant 14-year old Loretta Young, and a higher than average budget, the end result is a beautiful film that holds up wonderfully today.

"[14] "This is the best work of Lon Chaney since The Unholy Three, and it is a great relief to have him minus his usual sinister make-up.

--- Photoplay "Mr. Chaney, discarding for the moment his usual propensity for distorted limbs, is a properly sentimental clown."

--- Harrison's Reports[15] "Another romantic play with a semi-tragic finale....In this case, Lon Chaney as the star should be almost an insurance of a draw.

Even Lon Chaney's undoubtedly earnest interpretation...fails to arouse the necessary sympathy...Miss Young is attractive and dainty, but her talent as an actress is not called for to any great extent in this picture."

--- Exhibitors Herald-World In a 1985 interview, co-star Loretta Young stated "Lon Chaney, I think, was one of the real geniuses in our business.