THE MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES

US, 1957, 122 Minutes, Black and White.
James Cagney, Jane Greer, Dorothy Malone, Jim Backus, Robert Evans, Roger Smith.
Directed by Joseph Pevney.

The Man of a Thousand Faces is a very interesting biography of Lon Chaney. James Cagney is very good indeed in the central role and communicates something of the background of Chaney's acting from his experience of his deaf parents, to his self-assertion and sad experiences of his life. Dorothy Malone gives a very good performance as his first wife. (She had won an Oscar for Written on the Wind at this time.) The recreation of Chaney's acting and especially his film roles as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Phantom of the Opera are of great interest to audiences. It is interesting also to note that Robert Evans portrays very sympathetically the young Irving Thalberg, the producer who helped Chaney. Evans was to give up acting and become the producer of such films as The Godfather and Chinatown. An interesting biography showing something of the atmosphere of Hollywood in the 20s. (The Robert Evans story is shown in detail in the 2002 documentary on him, The Kid Stays in the Picture.)

1. Audience interest in Lon Chaney, Hollywood in the early decades of the century? The quality of this biopic? In film making and its history?

2. The timing of the release of the film. 1957? Lon Chaney in people's memories, the quality of this tribute to him at this time, the appreciation of his talent in the perspective of filmmaking of the 50s? The tribute to him now and silent film making in the perspective of longer developments?

3. The use of black and white photography and Cinemascope? The musical score and the background of the period? The re-creation of America, burlesque and vaudeville,, Hollywood in the early decades? The atmosphere and aura of Hollywood and film making?

4. The focus of the title on Chaney and his ability, the advertising gimmick for him in the late 20s? The ability of Chaney not only for make-up but for adapting his character and acting to his make-up? The importance of showing him with his make up skills? The familiarity of audiences with such characters as the Hunchback and the Phantom and many of the dramatic interludes of his life being played in this film in make up? The final impression of Chaney and his versatility?

5. The structure of the film and the opening with Irving Thalberg? Memory of Thalberg as the wonder producer of Hollywood and his early death? The quality of his tribute to Chaney and our seeing this throughout the narrative? The impact of the opening with Chaney's death? The tribute technique?

6. The initial focus on Chaney's family as deaf? The visualizing of many of the household scenes, the communication, the influence on Chaney in his interpretation of afflicted people? His fight as a boy and the reason for it, the symbolism of his fighting for his parents and himself and his identity?

7. The importance of the portrait of his parents: in themselves. their dignity, love, communication, the response of their children who could speak and hear?

8. The introduction of Cleva: her being late for the show, her slipping, the symbol that she had glamour but was not able to follow through, making mistakes? The happiness of the marriage, the build-up to the visit to the parents, audience reaction to her inability to cope? The failure of her appreciating the Chaneys? Her disowning her baby, the difficulties of the birth. the three weeks after the birth and the joy when the baby could speak? The film's technique of passing over five years with this atmosphere? Her decision to get a job, her reaction to Lon and also to the baby? Chaney's inability to hear her and her needs and the melodrama of the acid swallowing? Her absence then from her husband's and child's life? The pathos of her visits and the final presence of her son with her? What meaning did she give to Chaney's life and his understanding of character? How authentic a character was Cleva in the film?

9. The portrait of Lon and his skills? James Cagney's ability to communicate this? For example, the initial improvising and dancing with the model? His response to his parents in communicating, his love for Cleva and disappointment with her? His lavish attention to Creighton? His versatility in the shows? The importance of his personal character as being hard and dominant, blind? The bond that he made with his agent and his agent helping him throughout the years? People as being loyal to Chaney?

10. Creighton as the focus of difficulties within the family? The pregnancy and the difficulty of his birth, his love for his mother and father, the presents? His living at the stage door looked after by Hazel? The story sequence and Chaney dressing up as Granny? His being made the equivalent of an orphan, his sorrow at going to the home? The bond with Hazel? His growing up and accepting his father and Hazel? His love for make-up and wanting to be like his father? Their fishing scenes together, his discovery of the truth and Hazel's role in it? Hurting his father yet necessarily, returning to his mother? The importance of his being with his father at the end and receiving his heritage? How does this fare in the light of Lon Chaney Junior's subsequent film career?

11. The portrait of Hazel and the contrast with Cleva, her presence, as a chorus girl? The irony of her husband and his not having legs and Chaney's later use of this? Her absence from Chaney's life, visiting him, the proposal especially for Creighton, the happiness of their marriage? The home and Chaney's settling down? The encounter with Cleva and Hazel telling Creighton the truth? Her devotion as a wife?

12. The portrait of the agent, his abilities, his continued help with Creighton and with Hazel? His ideas for promotion?

13. The transition from vaudeville to film? Chaney's arrival in Hollywood, his being an extra and his versatility in so many films, eg. The Scarlet Car? The personality of the Duchess as typifying Hollywood and her helping him?

14. How well did Chaney make the transition from stage to film, especially with make-up? The importance of the scene for example when the healing occurred and seeing it being filmed and watching Cagney acting as Chaney acting?

15. His subsequent success and the reason for it? His sketches? What helped him portray afflicted people?

16. The presentation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame scenes and the irony of Cleva's visit?

17. The Phantom of the opera scenes and the discussion about the holiday?

18. His subsequent success and the posters around the room? The emphasis on versatility?

19. The illness and decline, Thalberg and his help, the desire to be busy, the final realization and his reconciliation with his son. his death?

20. The portrait of a man warts and all, understanding him and his strengths and weaknesses? How good a film biography of a human being?