“Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces” (2000) / Z-View

Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000)

Director: Kevin Brownlow

Stars:  Lon Chaney, Kenneth Branagh, Forrest J. Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, Lon Chaney Jr., Jackie Coogan and Orson Welles.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Lon Chaney, “The Man of a Thousand Faces,” was the child of deaf parents.  At the age of 19, Chaney, went on the road playing in vaudeville and theater acts.

At 22, Lon Chaney married Cleva Creighton, a sixteen year old singer.  The troubled marriage produced one son and lasted eight years.  It ended when his wife attempted suicide.  A scandal followed and Lon Chaney left theater for motion pictures.

For several years Lon Chaney made his living playing bit parts for Universal.  Chaney did his own make-up and was adept at transforming his look into whatever character he was to play.  In 1919, Lon Chaney got the role that made him a star in The Miracle Man.  Bigger and better roles followed.

Chaney became famous for his ability to disappear into a character.  Whether he was playing a double amputee (The Penalty), an armless knife-thrower (The Unknown), a deformed hunchback (The Hunchback of Notre Dame), a little old lady (The Unholy Three), a horrifying skull-faced psycho (The Phantom of the Opera), or any of the other roles he took on, audiences were thrilled.  Despite his characters physical and moral failings, Chaney brought a sense of humanity to each.

At the height of his stardom, Lon Chaney developed lung cancer and died shortly after being diagnosed.  The man died.  His legend lives on.

This is his story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Lon Chaney is my favorite silent movie star.  Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces is an excellent documentary well worth your time.

Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars.