West of Zanzibar (1928)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Tod Browning

Writers:

Elliott J. Clawson (writer)
Chester De Vonde (play)

Release Date:

24 November 1928 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Magician Phroso's wife Anna leaves him for another man, named Crane, who fights with Phroso and leaves him paralyzed...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Ivory | Brothel | Africa | Magician

Cast

Lon Chaney	...	Phroso 'Dead-Legs'
Lionel Barrymore	...	Mr. Crane
Mary Nolan	...	Maizie
Warner Baxter	...	Doc
Jacqueline Gadsden	...	Anna
Tiny Ward	...	Tiny (as Roscoe Ward)
Kalla Pasha	...	Babe
Curtis Nero	...	Bumbu

Runtime:

65 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (MovieTone) (musical score and sound effects) | Silent

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The play, "Kongo", opened in New York on 30 March 1926.

Quotes:

Mr. Crane: Come on! What's this all about? What are you wrecking that girl for?
Phroso 'Dead-Legs': You'll find out. That's why I brought you here.
Phroso 'Dead-Legs': That's Anna's child! YOUR DAUGHTER!
Phroso 'Dead-Legs': When I found Anna... she was dead! And that brat of yours was with her!
Phroso 'Dead-Legs': I had her raised in the lowest dive in Zanzibar... so you could be proud of her!
Phroso 'Dead-Legs': And now I've got a real treat comin' for her... and her father!
Mr. Crane: You're her father... not ME! She's... your daughter! YOURS!
Mr. Crane: Now listen! Your wife never went away with me... Do you hear? She never went away with me!
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)

A small masterpiece from director Tod Browning and actor Lon Chaney

Tod Browning is a marvelous director. I guess I've known this since i've seen his two most famous films, Dracula (the Bela Lugosi version) and Freaks. But neither of those films could have prepared me for the two films that I saw tonight (well, okay, maybe Freaks did; Dracula's not all that great a film). First, The Unknown from 1927 and, second, West of Zanzibar from the next year. Both of them starring Lon Chaney (Sr.). They are two of the most well-acted, well-directed, inventive, literate, powerful, and beautiful films I've ever seen. The difference between the two is that I had before heard of The Unkown - it's plot is too bizarre to be all that unknown. It's easily mentioned in the same breath with Freaks (in my opinion it is a step above it; that film is only interested in showing the freaks, although there are a couple of great, great scenes); there are thematic and plot similarities. But West of Zanzibar - it's not a typical film at all (not that The Unknown is, either, mind you!). In fact, it would be pointless to reveal any plot here, for if you've seen it (and I have no clue how many have), you'll likely remember it. If you haven't, it would be nice to come in fresh. See this underrated gem, I implore you!