Here it is what many consider to be the great Lon Chaney film. The movie for which he is most remembered. Chaney stars in his "Monster" role but Phantom isn't a just a "horror" film. It's so much more Erik is not a monster at all. The picture doesn't work if we consider him to be one. He is an outsider. I felt genuine sympathy for him. He was driven to insanity by the way people handled his differences. This follows Chaney's previous roles. Chaney was great at giving life into some strange characters and making their twisted souls poetic. He plays outsiders quite well. Chaney makes the character unique in the fact that we feel for him even though he has homicidal tendencies.
The make up is outstanding ad when you read into how Chaney created it you respect his craft even more. Chaney painfully contorted his face into Erik.Chaney was a man who suffered physically for his art and for that we have to thank him. The unmasking scene ranks as one of the best moments in all of cinema. I consider it to be on the level of "Rosebud" I have nothing but praise for this picture except for it's major flaw. Chaney was so outstanding in it that he was type cast as a horror actor. This is far too shallow a way to look at Chaney. Forrest Ackerman turned Chaney into something that he is not and should not be remembered as. Lon Chaney was one of the most versatile actors who ever lived. He was not a boogeyman by any stretch of the imagination. In fact horror made up merely 5% of his entire resume. This performance is to blame for when people consider him to be a horror star.
Some accuse the movie to have aged poorly. Well I think any talk of a movie aging makes no sense what so ever. Phantom where it's primitiveness shows but they by no means should be used against it.
Do I consider Phantom to be Chaney's best film? No not at all, but if this is the one that keeps Lon's legacy going. I say may it live forever
The make up is outstanding ad when you read into how Chaney created it you respect his craft even more. Chaney painfully contorted his face into Erik.Chaney was a man who suffered physically for his art and for that we have to thank him. The unmasking scene ranks as one of the best moments in all of cinema. I consider it to be on the level of "Rosebud" I have nothing but praise for this picture except for it's major flaw. Chaney was so outstanding in it that he was type cast as a horror actor. This is far too shallow a way to look at Chaney. Forrest Ackerman turned Chaney into something that he is not and should not be remembered as. Lon Chaney was one of the most versatile actors who ever lived. He was not a boogeyman by any stretch of the imagination. In fact horror made up merely 5% of his entire resume. This performance is to blame for when people consider him to be a horror star.
Some accuse the movie to have aged poorly. Well I think any talk of a movie aging makes no sense what so ever. Phantom where it's primitiveness shows but they by no means should be used against it.
Do I consider Phantom to be Chaney's best film? No not at all, but if this is the one that keeps Lon's legacy going. I say may it live forever