Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
So the TCM Chaney marathon has come and gone, as well as the anniversary of his death. I’d rather remember his birthday (April Fools!) than the former, I suppose. I remember pouring over FMF in the...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
>Chaney’s face was lined and care-worn by his late 30s< Don't discount the heavy smoking.
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
No, you can't discount that although given the era, most of Chaney's contemporaries smoked as much or more. Smoking can age you - but again, I'm pointing out that back in those days, life-expectancy...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Actually, Chaney did wear makeup in THUNDER. He did a beautiful job of highlights & shadows to enhance his age, as well as fine wrinkle lines in the face. Plus he wore a wig and grayed his hair...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Michael, When you say "front toupee", could you provide some more detail? One thing I noticed was that it covered his bald spot completely - and you can clearly see it fall away from the back of his...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Excellent thread. Michael, have you ever encountered any documentation on how Chaney's bronchial cancer was treated...? The chemo therapy and radiation treatments of today are rough enough. I would...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
They had radium treatments back then. I'd have to look it up but I'm under the impression it meant surgically implanting radium pellets in the affected area. Bronchial cancer can cause hemorrhaging of...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Lon Chaney was a genius. To my taste, if there were such a thing as the "greatest of all actors", then Chaney is the one that I would try to make the strongest case for. He deserved to be spoken in...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
CarlDenham wrote: Lon Chaney was a genius. To my taste, if there were such a thing as the "greatest of all actors", then Chaney is the one that I would try to make the strongest case for. He deserved...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Carl, I think Sr. was a terrific actor, for all of the reasons you mention. Especially, one of the best in his main field - American Silent Film. But I think there were others actors then as gifted in...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Chaney's performances have to be judged from film to film. Kevin Brownlow noted that if the director wasn't up to snuff, Chaney's performance might suffer as well. I don't care for Chaney in Ace of...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Most actors who'd had Stage experience - like Lon - and not just Cinema, had no trouble adjusting to Sound Film.
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
Even something like Mr. Wu is a TERRIFIC "Lon Chaney Production". It's almost as if MGM, and the material itself are in awe of him, and he does not dissappoint! I mean, just buy giving him his own...
View ArticleRe: Remembering Chaney - a 50 year-old's Perspective
I'd gotten the idea that ancient mandarin Wu was malevolent somehow thanks to all those pics in FMF - hardly the reality. What a make-up job, and for such a short scene. But one of my favorite parts...
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