Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)
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- Approved
- 2h 2min
- Biography, Drama
- 19 Nov 1957 (West Germany)
- Movie
The life and career of vaudevillian and silent screen horror star Lon Chaney, including his contentious relationship with his neurotic wife and his premature death.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| James Cagney | ... |
Lon Chaney
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| Dorothy Malone | ... |
Cleva Creighton Chaney
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| Jane Greer | ... |
Hazel Bennet Chaney
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| Marjorie Rambeau | ... |
Gert
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| Jim Backus | ... |
Clarence Locan
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| Robert Evans | ... |
Irving Thalberg
(as Robert J. Evans)
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| Celia Lovsky | ... |
Mrs. Chaney
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| Jeanne Cagney | ... |
Carrie Chaney
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| Jack Albertson | ... |
Dr. J. Wilson Shields
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| Roger Smith | ... |
Creighton Chaney at 21
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Robert Lyden | ... |
Creighton Chaney at 13
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Rickie Sorensen | ... |
Creighton Chaney at 8
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| Dennis Rush | ... |
Creighton Chaney at 4
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| Nolan Leary | ... |
Pa Chaney
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| Simon Scott | ... |
Carl Hastings
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| Clarence Kolb | ... |
Clarence Kolb
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Danny Beck | ... |
Max Dill
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| Philip Van Zandt | ... |
George Loane Tucker
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| Hank Mann | ... |
Comedy Waiter
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| 'Snub' Pollard | ... |
Comedy Waiter
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| John Halloran | ... |
Saloon Proprietor (scenesDeleted)
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| Natalie Masters | ... |
Nurse (scenesDeleted)
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| Harry Antrim | ... |
Cleva's Birth Doctor (uncredited)
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Emile Avery | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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| Al Bain | ... |
Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
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| Bobby Barber | ... |
Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)
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| Russ Bender | ... |
Divorce Judge (uncredited)
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| Marjorie Bennett | ... |
Vera, Housekeeper (uncredited)
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| June Blair | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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| Nicky Blair | ... |
Cameraman of 'Unholy Three' (uncredited)
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| Larry J. Blake | ... |
David T. Stone (uncredited)
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Harold Bostwick | ... |
Piano Player (uncredited)
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| Rudy Bowman | ... |
Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
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| Chet Brandenburg | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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Helen Brown | ... |
Mrs. Heinley (uncredited)
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| Robert Brubaker | ... |
Jack Conway, Director of 'Unholy Three' (uncredited)
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| John Bryant | ... |
William R. Darrow Jr. (uncredited)
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George Calliga | ... |
Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
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Charles Cane | ... |
Studio Guard (uncredited)
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| Anna Lee Carroll | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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James J. Casino | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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| Spencer Chan | ... |
Chinese Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Bill Chatham | ... |
Shadow Dancer (uncredited)
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Jack Chefe | ... |
Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Dick Cherney | ... |
Crew Member (uncredited)
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| Heinie Conklin | ... |
Audience Extra (uncredited)
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| Billy Curtis | ... |
Harry Earles - Midget Actor in 'The Unholy Three' (uncredited)
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Michael Dale | ... |
Reporter at Chaney's House (uncredited)
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| Troy Donahue | ... |
Assistant Director in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Helene Drake | ... |
Script Supervisor, 'Laugh Clown Laugh' (uncredited)
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Steve Drexel | ... |
Messenger Boy (uncredited)
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| Richard Emory | ... |
Assistant Director in Bullpen (uncredited)
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William Flaherty | ... |
Assistant Director of 'Hunchback' (uncredited)
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Elizabeth Flournoy | ... |
Thalberg's Secretary (uncredited)
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Evelyn Ford | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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| Clem Fuller | ... |
Cowboy Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
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| John George | ... |
Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Kenneth Gibson | ... |
Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
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Bhupesh Guha | ... |
Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
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Robert Haines | ... |
Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
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Jerry Hartleben | ... |
Lon Chaney at 8 (uncredited)
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| Charles Horvath | ... |
Ivan Linow, Actor playing Hercules in 'Unholy Three' (uncredited)
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| Bob Hoy | ... |
Assistant Director in Bullpen (uncredited)
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| William Hudson | ... |
David Anderson, Reporter (uncredited)
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| Dave Kashner | ... |
Flogger of 'Hunchback' (uncredited)
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| Tom Kennedy | ... |
Audience at Eulogy (uncredited)
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| Jack Kenny | ... |
Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Donald Kerr | ... |
Don, a Stagehand (uncredited)
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Nancy Kilgas | ... |
Mary Philbin in 'Phantom' (uncredited)
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| Jess Kirkpatrick | ... |
Police Lieutenant in Hospital (uncredited)
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Mike Lally | ... |
Lighting Man of 'Unholy Three' (uncredited)
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| Louise Lane | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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| Hugh Lawrence | ... |
George Chaney (uncredited)
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Walter Lawrence | ... |
Stagehand (uncredited)
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Robert Locke Lorraine | ... |
Theatre Patron (uncredited)
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| Herbert Lytton | ... |
Emergency Room Doctor (uncredited)
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Della Malzahn | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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George E. Mather | ... |
Assistant Director in Bullpen (uncredited)
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William Meader | ... |
Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
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Joe Merritt | ... |
Assistant Director in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Ralph Montgomery | ... |
Director in Bullpen (uncredited)
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| Carol Morris | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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| Sol Murgi | ... |
Townsman in Miracle Man (uncredited)
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| Forbes Murray | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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Leo Needham | ... |
John Chaney (uncredited)
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| Eddie Parker | ... |
Studio Guard (uncredited)
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| Hank Patterson | ... |
Scotty, Stage Door Man (uncredited)
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George Pembroke | ... |
Mr. Tait (uncredited)
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George Peters | ... |
Director of 'Hunchback' (uncredited)
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| Foster H. Phinney | ... |
Director of 'Phantom' (uncredited)
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Allen Pinson | ... |
Reporter at Chaney's House (uncredited)
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Mike Portanova | ... |
Assistant Director of 'Unholy Three' (uncredited)
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Paul Power | ... |
Studio Executive (uncredited)
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George Ramsey | ... |
Assistant Director (uncredited)
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Ford Raymond | ... |
Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
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| James Seay | ... |
Casting Director (uncredited)
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| Charles Soldani | ... |
Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Cap Somers | ... |
Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Owen Song | ... |
Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Lelani Sorenson | ... |
Carrie Chaney at 6 (uncredited)
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| George Sowards | ... |
Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)
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| Ray Spiker | ... |
Ceremony Guest (uncredited)
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| Norman Stevans | ... |
Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
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| Robert Stevenson | ... |
Policeman, 'Unholy Three' Set (uncredited)
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Jane Strangis | ... |
Chorine (uncredited)
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Hal Taggart | ... |
Chaney's Divorce Lawyer (uncredited)
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| Forrest Taylor | ... |
Miracle Man (uncredited)
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| Ken Terrell | ... |
Reporter at Chaney's House (uncredited)
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Jack Tesler | ... |
Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
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| Sammee Tong | ... |
Chinese Extra (uncredited)
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| Jack Tornek | ... |
Townsman in Miracle Man (uncredited)
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Frances E. Williams | ... |
Louisa, Cleva's Maid (uncredited)
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| Harry Wilson | ... |
Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Annie Yip | ... |
Chinese Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Joseph Pevney | ||
Written by
| Ralph Wheelwright | ... | (story) |
| R. Wright Campbell | ... | () and |
| Ivan Goff | ... | () & |
| Ben Roberts | ... | () |
Produced by
| Robert Arthur | ... | producer |
Music by
| Frank Skinner | ||
Cinematography by
| Russell Metty | ||
Film Editing by
| Ted J. Kent | ||
Art Direction by
| Alexander Golitzen | ||
| Eric Orbom | ||
Set Decoration by
| Russell A. Gausman | ||
| Julia Heron | ||
Costume Design by
| Bill Thomas | ||
Makeup Department
| Jack Kevan | ... | makeup artist (unconfirmed) |
| Bud Westmore | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Edward Dodds | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Phil Bowles | ... | assistant director |
| Ray DeCamp | ... | assistant director (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Leslie I. Carey | ... | sound recordist |
| Robert Pritchard | ... | sound recordist |
| Robert L. Bratton | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
| Edward L. Sandlin | ... | sound editor (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Clifford Stine | ... | special photographic effects |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Marilyn Sotto | ... | wardrobe: Mr. Cagney |
Music Department
| Joseph Gershenson | ... | orchestrator |
| Milton Rosen | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
| Ethmer Roten | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Edward Ward | ... | composer: stock music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Adele Cannon | ... | script supervisor (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Clarence Kolb | ... | technical advisor |
| Marjorie Ramsey | ... | technical advisor |
| Reynold Brown | ... | movie poster art (uncredited) |
| Doreen Taylor | ... | singing double: "Malone" (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1957) (United States) (theatrical) (as Universal-International)
- Empire Universal Films (1957) (Canada) (theatrical)
- J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1957) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Acme Films (1957) (Philippines) (theatrical)
- Universal Filmverleih (1957) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1957) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Universal Films Argentina (1958) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Universal Film (1958) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Société Anonyme Universal-Film (1958) (France) (theatrical)
- Universal Pictures (1964) (United States) (theatrical) (reissue)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (United States) (VHS) (pan/scan)
- MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Image Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2008) (Canada) (DVD)
- Universal Studios Home Video (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- Universal Studios (2008) (United States) (DVD)
- TGG Direct (2013) (United States) (DVD) (double-billed with "The Big Clock")
- Elephant Films (2017) (France) (video) (HD Release)
- Arrow Video (2019) (United States)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Loose biography of actor Lon Chaney. Growing up with deaf parents, he learns what it is like to be different. As an actor, he puts that knowledge (together with lots of make-up and talent) to use playing a variety of strange, unusual characters, adopting their characteristics so thoroughly as to be called the Man of a Thousand Faces.
Written by Ken Yousten |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Only Two Women Knew The Secret Behind Lon Chaney, The Fabulous Man Of A Thousand Faces! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | As with most biographical films, the script is a combination of fact and screenwriters' fancy. To give but two examples, Lon Chaney Jr. was not born in a hospital, but at his parents' then-home in Oklahoma City, as was common at the time. Further, Cleva Creighton Chaney was well aware, before her marriage to Lon Chaney, that his parents were hearing-impaired, and had already met them on several occasions. See more » |
| Goofs | Lon Chaney was very much against Creighton entering into the film business. He most certainly did not present Creighton with his makeup case on his death bed. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Jingle Bells See more » |
| Quotes |
Lon Chaney:
The kind of fellows I play, pretty girls don't write to. See more » |