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The Penalty (1920/I)
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Overview
Release Date:
August 1920 (USA) morePlot:
Blizzard, deranged from a childhood operation in which both his legs were perhaps needlessly amputated after an accident... more | add synopsisUser Comments:
"I Can Murder Anything But Music" moreCast
(Credited cast)| Charles Clary | ... | Dr. Ferris | |
| Doris Pawn | ... | Barbary Nell | |
| Jim Mason | ... | Frisco Pete (as James Mason) | |
| Lon Chaney | ... | Blizzard | |
| Milton Ross | ... | Lichtenstein | |
| Ethel Grey Terry | ... | Rose | |
| Kenneth Harlan | ... | Dr. Wilmot Allen | |
| Claire Adams | ... | Barbara Ferris |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
90 min (2004 alternate version)Country:
USAColor:
Black and WhiteSound Mix:
SilentCertification:
USA:Passed (National Board of Review)Filming Locations:
San Francisco, California, USAMOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Lon Chaney had both of his lower legs tied back and had to walk on his kneecaps for his role as an amputee. It was so painful he could only have his legs tied back for a few minutes at a time, and his leg muscles sustained permanent damage. moreFAQ
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Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for The Penalty (1920/I)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| i really liked this movie but.. | FrankElliottMoore |
| just see it | bettydaw1970 |
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Lon Chaney gives yet another outstanding performance as a man living with his legs amputated at a young age by mistake. He overhears the doctors first saying it was a mistake and then forging a pact to lie and say the surgery was essential. Chaney grows up to be a bitter, malevolent leader of underground activities in San Francisco. The role gives Chaney several opportunities to show his undeniable skill as an actor and human contortionist. Doubling his legs up and walking on his knees, Chaney mesmerized me with his ability to change reality into fantasy. He looks like a crippled man. Chaney also again showed me his range as an actor that could create pathos through his facial expressions. Never playing a one-dimensional part, Chaney is often brutal and cruel throughout much of the film, yet he enjoys music and art and always possesses a certain charm and affability. A wonderful performance all around! The other actors are very good and the direction is nice and tight. The story is very strong with some melodramatic overtones to be sure. There are some great scenes in this film like Chaney carrying on like a madman demanding the legs of a young doctor and, in particular, the scenes where he poses as Satan after the fall. The film has a nice pace for a silent picture, and the title cards are extremely powerful and literate.