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LON CHANEY: A THOUSAND FACES (TV)

Summary

This documentary celebrates the talented and prolific silent-film actor Lon Chaney (1883-1930). Kenneth Branagh narrates over extensive footage from Chaney's films, interviews with colleagues and film historians, and still photographs from his personal and work life. The program begins with praise from author Ray Bradbury, producer Arthur Gardner, and actor/friend Malcolm Sabiston. Footage from "The Phantom of Opera" and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" is shown. Teresa Blake, a 1920s filmgoer, then describes the fright she experienced watching Chaney in these two films. Film historian Forrest Ackerman pays tribute to Chaney's makeup artistry, and, in a 1971 interview, Orson Welles discusses Chaney's skill as an actor. Next, Michael Blake, a Chaney biographer and a makeup artist in his own right, delves into Chaney's versatility. Another moviegoer of the silent era, Mary Hunt, describes her reaction to Chaney's performance in the film "The Shock," and footage of the film is shown. The program next explores Chaney's childhood; born to parents who were deaf mutes, the actor learned early to communicate without words. Ron Chaney, Chaney's great-grandson, discusses the early death of Chaney's mother and the actor's first marriage to singer Cleva Creighton. Forced out of the theater after a messy public divorce from Creighton, Chaney took responsibility for their son Creighton Chaney (later Lon Chaney, Jr.) and began work in film. In a 1969 interview, Lon Chaney, Jr., describes the pair's mode of survival during the lean years. Footage from "By the Sun's Rays," one of Chaney's first films, is shown.

Chaney worked at Universal Pictures from its inception, viewers learn, but unfortunately the studio destroyed many of its early films. Rare footage of his films "Alas and Alack" and "Fascination of the Fleur de Lis" is screened. Branagh explains that Chaney married Hazel Hastings and soon after quit Universal pictures. Footage is shown from "Riddle Gawne," "The Wicked Darling," "The Miracle Man," "Nomads of the North," The Penalty," "Outside the Law," "Shadows," and "Oliver Twist." The actor's collaboration with director Tod Browning is discussed, and Blake describes Chaney's elaborate and painful costume for "The Penalty," in which he played a double amputee. Author Budd Schulberg explains that Chaney's Chinese character in "Shadows" was a dangerous one for the actor to play because of anti-Chinese sentiment at the time. In a 1977 interview, Jackie Coogan, who played Oliver Twist in the 1922 production of the Dickens story, reminisces about working with Chaney. The documentary next screens footage of "The Trap," originally named "The Heart of a Wolf," which Chaney co-wrote, and "The Shock"; Branagh notes that these two films were not well received by critics. The film then concentrates on Chaney's role as Quasimodo in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Extensive footage from the film screens, and, in a 1991 interview, co-star Patsy Ruth Miller discusses Chaney's deep involvement in the role.

Next, still photographs and home-movie footage of the actor and his wife Hazel are shown. Sara Karloff, daughter of actor Boris Karloff, discusses the sound advice Chaney gave her father when Karloff was starting out. Footage from the films "He Who Gets Slapped" and "The Unholy Three" screens. The film then concentrates on Chaney's role as Eric in "The Phantom of the Opera," stressing that Chaney's makeup for the film was his most creative yet. After comments from Ray Bradbury and director William Sheldon, clips from "Mr. Wu," "Tell It To the Marines," and "London After Midnight" screen. Interviews about Chaney's work in "London After Midnight" are followed by footage from "Laugh Clown Laugh," "West of Zanzibar," "While the City Sleeps," and "Thunder." Finally, the documentary discusses the actor's sharp decline from lung cancer while filming the sound version of "The Unholy Three."

Details

  • NETWORK: TCM
  • DATE: October 24, 2000 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:29:08
  • COLOR/B&W: Color and B&W
  • CATALOG ID: T:64236
  • GENRE: Arts documentaries
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Film makeup; Horror films; Motion picture actors and actresses; Motion pictures - History
  • SERIES RUN: TCM (Turner Classic Movies) - TV, 2000
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Hugh M. Hefner … Executive Producer
  • Patrick Stanbury … Producer
  • Kevin Brownlow … Director
  • Nic Raine … Composer, Conductor
  • City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
  • Kenneth Branagh … Narrator
  • Forrest Ackerman
  • Michael Blake
  • Teresa Blake
  • Ray Bradbury
  • Tod Browning
  • Lon Chaney
  • Chaney, Lon, Jr. (Creighton Chaney)
  • Ron Chaney
  • Jackie Coogan
  • Cleva Creighton
  • Arthur Gardner
  • Hazel Hastings
  • Mary Hunt
  • Boris Karloff
  • Sara Karloff
  • Patsy Ruth Miller
  • Malcolm Sabiston
  • Budd Schulberg
  • William Sheldon
  • Orson Welles