... using production stills, the shooting script, and a score by Robert Israel. I am rating the reconstruction's ability to recreate the mood and story of the film, as the film itself is lost. It's a noticeable loss, since MGM has a better record of preserving their silent film heritage than any other studio.
Even though it is a sought after prize among lost films, it was poorly reviewed in its day. Reviewers praised Lon Chaney's performance and makeup, but thought that the script was a bit of a mess, with the central mystery being poorly resolved. And from watching the reconstruction, I have to agree.
Roger Balfour is found shot to death in his home, with an investigator arriving fifteen minutes after his death (Lon Chaney as Edward Burke) , without even being summoned. He begins to question everybody in the house - Balfour's daughter, Lucille (Marceline Day), Balfour's good friend Sir James Hamlin (Henry Walthall), Hamlin's nephew Arthur Hibbs (Conrad Nagel), and Williams, Balfour's butler (Percy Williams). A suicide note is found near the body, and the death ruled as such.
Five years later, and apparently Lucille Balfour has moved elsewhere, with the Balfour mansion in overgrown ruins. This is where Chaney's vampire character with the hideous teeth enters the picture. He actually signs a lease for the property, along with a younger looking female vampire. Shortly thereafter, Roger Balfour, apparently now a vampire, is living on the old Balfour estate with the two other vampires. Burke and Hamlin investigate and find Roger Balfour's tomb empty. Complications ensue.
I immediately recognized this plot as the same one as that for 1935's "Mark of the Vampire", also directed by Tod Browning. That one also has huge plot holes, but at least the victim there does not die from a gunshot wound and then inexplicably become a vampire. Neither does it have a vampire signing a lease and partaking in commerce. Had he not paid the rent would they have evicted a vampire? I will give the original this - the 1935 remake required two legendary actors - Lionel Barrymore AND Bela Lugosi - to replace just one legendary actor - Lon Chaney.
Today, Lon Chaney is the best known member of the cast. Marceline Day, top billed next to Chaney, was a big star in her time but sound apparently washed out her career, although her voice was fine. After she left Hollywood she would never watch or even discuss her films again.
Even though it is a sought after prize among lost films, it was poorly reviewed in its day. Reviewers praised Lon Chaney's performance and makeup, but thought that the script was a bit of a mess, with the central mystery being poorly resolved. And from watching the reconstruction, I have to agree.
Roger Balfour is found shot to death in his home, with an investigator arriving fifteen minutes after his death (Lon Chaney as Edward Burke) , without even being summoned. He begins to question everybody in the house - Balfour's daughter, Lucille (Marceline Day), Balfour's good friend Sir James Hamlin (Henry Walthall), Hamlin's nephew Arthur Hibbs (Conrad Nagel), and Williams, Balfour's butler (Percy Williams). A suicide note is found near the body, and the death ruled as such.
Five years later, and apparently Lucille Balfour has moved elsewhere, with the Balfour mansion in overgrown ruins. This is where Chaney's vampire character with the hideous teeth enters the picture. He actually signs a lease for the property, along with a younger looking female vampire. Shortly thereafter, Roger Balfour, apparently now a vampire, is living on the old Balfour estate with the two other vampires. Burke and Hamlin investigate and find Roger Balfour's tomb empty. Complications ensue.
I immediately recognized this plot as the same one as that for 1935's "Mark of the Vampire", also directed by Tod Browning. That one also has huge plot holes, but at least the victim there does not die from a gunshot wound and then inexplicably become a vampire. Neither does it have a vampire signing a lease and partaking in commerce. Had he not paid the rent would they have evicted a vampire? I will give the original this - the 1935 remake required two legendary actors - Lionel Barrymore AND Bela Lugosi - to replace just one legendary actor - Lon Chaney.
Today, Lon Chaney is the best known member of the cast. Marceline Day, top billed next to Chaney, was a big star in her time but sound apparently washed out her career, although her voice was fine. After she left Hollywood she would never watch or even discuss her films again.