In London, dapper magician Lon Chaney (as Phroso) entertains audiences by turning a skeleton into beautiful Jacqueline Gadsdon (as Anna), his wife and partner. But she is planning to run away with lover Lionel Barrymore (as Crane), an African ivory merchant. He gives Mr. Chaney the bad news and their confrontation leads to Chaney being tossed over a balcony. Consequently, Chaney loses the use of his legs. He begins a heartless revenge after obtaining his quickly expired wife's "love child" and taking her to Africa...
Eighteen years later, "West of Zanzibar", Chaney (now known as "Dead-Legs") retrieves pretty blonde Mary Nolan (as Maizie) from her childhood as an alcoholic prostitute. This is how Chaney wants to present Ms. Nolan to her father, Mr. Barrymore. While staying with Chaney, Nolan arouses Warner Baxter (as Doc), an addicted physician helping Chaney cope with his disability. Chaney uses his magician background to dupe superstitious natives. Their propensity to eat and burn people could come back to bite or burn him...
Perverse and predictable, this lurid melodrama contains enough Browning/Chaney dramatics to recommend, although the story is far from their best. There would be only one more collaboration, "Where East Is East" (1929), due to Chaney's untimely death. "West of Zanzibar" is one of the pictures the legendary filmmaking team might have re-made with sound. The short running time hints story elements were dropped at some stage; a longer film might have improved the pacing, and made the big scenes more surprising.
****** West of Zanzibar (11/24/28) Tod Browning ~ Lon Chaney, Lionel Barrymore, Mary Nolan, Warner Baxter
Eighteen years later, "West of Zanzibar", Chaney (now known as "Dead-Legs") retrieves pretty blonde Mary Nolan (as Maizie) from her childhood as an alcoholic prostitute. This is how Chaney wants to present Ms. Nolan to her father, Mr. Barrymore. While staying with Chaney, Nolan arouses Warner Baxter (as Doc), an addicted physician helping Chaney cope with his disability. Chaney uses his magician background to dupe superstitious natives. Their propensity to eat and burn people could come back to bite or burn him...
Perverse and predictable, this lurid melodrama contains enough Browning/Chaney dramatics to recommend, although the story is far from their best. There would be only one more collaboration, "Where East Is East" (1929), due to Chaney's untimely death. "West of Zanzibar" is one of the pictures the legendary filmmaking team might have re-made with sound. The short running time hints story elements were dropped at some stage; a longer film might have improved the pacing, and made the big scenes more surprising.
****** West of Zanzibar (11/24/28) Tod Browning ~ Lon Chaney, Lionel Barrymore, Mary Nolan, Warner Baxter