George_Chabot's Full Review: Man of a Thousand Faces
Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)
James Cagney sensitively brought to life the story of Lon Chaney, great star of the silent screen.
In a performance that showed his versatility, Cagney pulled out all the stops in this screen biography, showing his depth of abilities, ranging from song and dance, clowning, to dramatic portrayals of monsters lit by the spark of humanity within. As another reviewer noted, Cagney was much more than a gangster, able to expertly play nearly any role that was needed, with appropriate mannerisms and emotions. However, gangster pictures were a sure moneymaker, so Cagney was usually cast as a tough guy, even though his talents were wide ranging.
Lon Chaney, almost forgotten by modern audiences, was a staple of Universal and MGM during the silent days, often playing multiple roles per feature. His forte was being able to portray all sorts of characters, including women, and make visible the pathos contained within the breast of every different character. His portrayal of such characters as the Phantom of the Opera and the Hunchback of Notre Dame were indelibly imprinted on the minds of movie viewers everywhere.
Lon Chaney was raised by deaf parents, from which he got his remarkable ability at miming. Unfortunately, he never seemed to get over the stigma of being "different", and carried his early memories into adulthood, becoming a forbidding, distant person, later dubbed by Hollywood "The Man of Mystery".
Chaney's insensitive first wife, played by Dorothy Malone, left him and his infant son because she was afraid he would turn out deaf like Lon's parents. The film depicted how the boy, Creighton, had to be raised by an orphanage because, as an actor, Lon did not have a stable income and lifestyle to offer the child. Many years later a sympathetic chorus girl (Jane Greer) married Lon and they were able to take Creighton home again.
The movie was somewhat somber in the sense that it dwelt on Chaney's personal struggles too much. Since he was a reclusive character he did not draw much warmth from the viewer. Supporting cast, such as Jim Backus, as his press agent, Jane Greer, as his second wife, and Robert Evans, as Irving Thalberg, did a great job of keeping the story from descending totally into depression.
This last character, Irving Thalberg, is a good reason to see Man of a Thousand Faces, as his story is as remarkable as Chaney's. Working his way up from secretary, Thalberg became the executive in charge of production at Universal at age 21. Jumping to MGM, he became the author of the star system that made so many great movies during the 30s and 40s. Unfortunately, his weak constitution would not take the demands that workaholic Thalberg placed on it and he died in 1936.
Overall, the picture rates a solid three stars, as although the subject matter is not the most interesting, the acting by James Cagney is impeccable. It is a tribute to Cagney's ability and integrity that he portrayed Lon Chaney with a little artistic license, but close enough to please a purist movie buff.
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