Man of a Thousand Faces
The title stems from the billing given the late Universal, later Metro, star, Lon Chaney by an alert publicity man. The screenplay, based on a story by Ralph Wheelwright, is mainly concerned with Chaney's complicated domestic problems. His achievements as a consummate artist, while woven into the story, are secondary to his mixed-up private life.
The title stems from the billing given the late Universal, later Metro, star, Lon Chaney by an alert publicity man. The screenplay, based on a story by Ralph Wheelwright, is mainly concerned with Chaney’s complicated domestic problems. His achievements as a consummate artist, while woven into the story, are secondary to his mixed-up private life.
The story, in swift sequences, takes Chaney from his early boyhood to his death of throat cancer. Born of deaf and dumb parents, this is an important emotional factor in Chaney’s motivations. Screenplay ranges song-and-dance vaudeville days, two marriages, the birth of his son, early struggles as a Hollywood extra, eventual rise to stardom, and tragic death.
As Chaney, James Cagney has immersed himself so completely in the role that it is difficult to spot any Cagney mannerisms. Jane Greer, as his second wife, is particularly appealing in her devotion to her ‘difficult’ spouse. Dorothy Malone is fine as the wife who deems her career as a singer more important than raising children. A real heart-tug is provided by Celia Lovsky as Chaney’s deaf and dumb mother. Bud Westmore deserves special mention for the excellent make-up jobs on the various characters portrayed by Chaney.
1957: Nomination: Best Original Story & Screenplay
Man of a Thousand Faces
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