The Faces of Lon Chaney

Lon Chaney is Hollywood’s Man of a Thousand Faces. From 1912 until his death in 1930, Chaney made approximately 157 films, of which 100 of them has been lost. Lon Chaney was contracted by the studios to do character work. He is known for starring in some of Hollywood’s legendary silent horror films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Phantom of the Opera.

He gained a reputation in Hollywood for being able to transform himself using makeup, therefore, earning himself the title of Man of a Thousand Faces. In no particular order, here are a few of my favorite faces of Lon Chaney.

He Who Gets Slapped (1924)

Synopsis: After Baron Regnard (Marc MacDermott) steals both his greatest invention and his wife, scientist Paul Beaumont (Lon Chaney) loses all self-regard and joins a circus sideshow to become the most famous clown in France, known as “He Who Gets Slapped” by other clowns. When Paul falls in love with bareback rider Consuelo (Norma Shearer), she and her partner, Brazo (John Gilbert), mock him. He is heartbroken but determined to shield Consuelo when Regnard shows a sudden romantic interest in her.

The Unknown (1927)

Synopsis: On the run from the law, Alonzo (Lon Chaney) hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder — a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo has the use of his arms but keeps them concealed so that his true identity remains under wraps. Meanwhile, Alonzo falls in love with another performer, Nanon (Joan Crawford), who has a phobia against being touched by a man. But when the circus owner (Nick De Ruiz) discovers Alonzo’s true identity, the performer makes a tragic decision.

Mr. Wu (1927)

Synopsis: A Chinese aristocrat (Lon Chaney) ruthlessly defends his daughter’s (Renée Adorée) honor after a wealthy Briton seduces and abandons her.

The Phantom of the Opera (1925)

Synopsis: In this silent horror classic, aspiring young opera singer Christine Daaé (Mary Philbin) discovers that she has a mysterious admirer intent on helping her become a lead performer. This enigmatic masked presence is Erik, also known as the Phantom (Lon Chaney), a horribly disfigured recluse who lives underneath the Paris Opera House. When the Phantom takes Christine prisoner and demands her devotion and affection, her suitor, Vicomte Raoul de Chagny (Norman Kerry), sets out to rescue her.

London After Midnight (1927)

Synopsis: The abandoned home of a wealthy man who supposedly committed suicide five years earlier is taken over by ghoulish figures – could they be vampires?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)

Synopsis: In 15th-century Paris, Jehan (Brandon Hurst), the evil brother of the archdeacon, lusts after a Gypsy named Esmeralda (Patsy Ruth Miller) and commands the hunchback Quasimodo (Lon Chaney) to capture her. Military captain Phoebus (Norman Kerry) also loves Esmeralda and rescues her, but the Gypsy is not unsympathetic to Quasimodo’s condition, and an unlikely bond forms between them. After vengeful Jehan frames Esmeralda for the attempted murder of Phoebus, Quasimodo’s feelings are put to the test.

A Blind Bargain (1922)

Synopsis: Lon Chaney performs two roles: Doctor Lamb, a mad surgeon who’s doing experiments on human bodies, and his crippled and apish assistant, the result of his first experiment.

The Penalty (1920)

Synopsis: As a child, Blizzard (Lon Chaney) is involved in a car accident in which the attending physician, Dr. Ferris (Charles Clary), unnecessarily amputates both his legs. Years later, Blizzard is the head of the San Francisco mob and is determined to exact revenge on Dr. Ferris. He sees an opening when he meets the doctor’s daughter, sculptor Barbara (Claire Adams), and agrees to pose for her to carry out his scheme. Little does he know, his employee Rose (Ethel Grey Terry) is a police operative.

Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928)

Synopsis: A clown named Tito Beppi (Lon Chaney) adopts orphaned Simonetta (Loretta Young), and they begin to travel and perform in the circus together. As Simonetta grows into a beautiful young woman, Tito eventually falls in love with her. Though the girl actually has eyes for the young and noble Count Ravelli (Nils Asther), she pretends to want the kindly clown because she is unwilling to break his heart. When Tito realizes that he stands in the way of her happiness, things turn tragic.