Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (TV 2000)

Lon Chaney, the silent movie star and makeup artist, renowned for his various characterizations and celebrated for his horror films, becomes the subject of this documentary.

Director:

Kevin Brownlow

Stars:

Kenneth Branagh, Forrest J Ackerman, Michael F. Blake

3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Kenneth Branagh	...	Himself / Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Forrest J Ackerman	...	Himself
Michael F. Blake	...	Himself
Teresa Blake	...	Herself
Ray Bradbury	...	Himself
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Himself (archive footage)
Lon Chaney	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ron Chaney	...	Himself
Jackie Coogan	...	Himself (archive footage)
Arthur Gardner	...	Himself
Mary Hunt	...	Herself
Sara Karloff	...	Herself
Patsy Ruth Miller	...	Herself
Edward Montagne	...	Himself
Budd Schulberg	...	Himself

Storyline

Lon Chaney, the silent movie star and makeup artist, renowned for his various characterizations and celebrated for his horror films, becomes the subject of this documentary. We learn of his deaf mute parents, his own long-delayed ability to talk and the origins of his expressive face and hands, which were to serve him so well in his career. He started as a touring stage actor where he met the singer, who became his first wife, and gave him the child who later became a lesser horror star on his own. Lon Chaney's early film roles lead to his first fame as a contortionist in "The Miracle Man," and then on to the horror roles, that are well remembered today, and to the varied character roles, that are still beloved of silent movie fans. Lung cancer ends his life, and we learn how the world reacted. Finally, there is a mysterious anecdote about Lon Chaney's tomb.

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Plot Keywords:

actor | interview | makeup case | deafness | motion picture | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 October 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lon Chaney: El hombre de las mil caras

Filming Locations:

Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Photoplay Productions, Turner Classic Movies (TCM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Features The Scarlet Car (1917)

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Soundtracks

"Laugh, Clown, Laugh!"
(1928)
Lyrics by Lewis and Young
Music by Ted Fio Rito

User Reviews

A great documentary which may FINALLY show Chaney in the proper context!

This was a great documentary with excellent interviews and clips; could have done without Branagh though. This docu seems to finally remove the taboo labeling of horror star from Lon; showing the casual viewer that he made many, many , many more films that merely Phantom & Hunchback; and that a horror star he WAS NOT. Can't wait for it to come out on DVD. A