At the risk of incurring the wrath of Douglas Fairbanks, I thought I'd mention that today is Katie-Award winning actor Lon Chaney's birthday today. He is a robust 127.I've written about him many times, and his dust-ups with Fairbanks in the pages of this blog are legendary. Perhaps you can take this as an opportunity to use the nifty search feature on the right hand side of the page and read all about it. You won't be disappointed. Unless, of course, you are.
In his honor, here is a public domain copy of perhaps his greatest performance, 1925's The Phantom Of The Opera. Enjoy.
I figured I would link my name this time directly to my post that has my review of his great Hunchback of Notre Dame.
ReplyDeleteChaney was the masterful actor, the more difficult to relate to thespian, the Brando and Day-Lewis to the easy-going, but pretty much without acting talent Fairbanks' John Wayne (outside of The Searchers) or Schwarzenegger.
Given that Chaplin's best performances were in 1931, 1936 and 1940, I have to argue that Chaney is the best actor of the Silent Era.
And if John Barrymore doesn't like, he can go get drunk.
I went to bed last night without commenting. I am a contented soul, and need not argue with Chaney or his admirers.
ReplyDeleteErik -- I can't really argue with you, old boy. Best actor.
Oh, I almost forgot, go fuck yerself!
Hey, Mythical Monkey -- best to let sleeping dogs lie. And lay.
Ahem -- don't you start with me . . . .
And, although I won't link my name to it [for my name shall always be linked to greatness! and Mary. . .], I direct your asttention -- Erik -- to some real reporting, some real criticism, some real taste!
ReplyDeleteBattleship Potemkin and Lon Chaney indeed. Haruuumph!
Ahem, for those of you who weren't here a year ago, our resident Doug Fairbanks is known primarily for his subtlety and equanimity. As with a bear who arrives uninvited at a picnic, I recommend you back away slowly and don't make eye contact ...
ReplyDeleteWe love ya, Doug!
Speaking of Douglas Fairbanks, Avalon over at Silent Stanzas has written a poem about him ...
ReplyDeleteAs with a bear who arrives uninvited at a picnic, I recommend you back away slowly and don't make eye contact ...
ReplyDeleteI can accept that. . . .
btw, mister monkey, I have a hard time believing that you would airbrush her out. And itsn't it cool that for an extra dime [25%], you could get a divan?
And my final comment: go here, and laugh at this until your pants fall off.
ReplyDeleteThen imagine me in the role.
Sublime
Oh, DF.
ReplyDeleteYes, you nailed Pickford. Who couldn't hold a candle to Shearer as an actress or a looker.
But I think your real bitterness is that Errol Flynn came around, did your roles, was much better, and pretty much nailed everybody.
You were my favorite Zorro though.
My Favourite Zorro -- I sense a blog coming on.
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky this internet stands between you and me, pantywaist, because nobody -- and I mean nobody says that about Mary without a spanking.
If there's any spanking to be done on this blog, we'll import Marlene Dietrich to do it. Preferably in that gorilla costume from Blonde Venus ...
ReplyDelete