Lon Chaney's power to terrify
February 18, 2006 12:48 PM Subscribe
"He was someone who acted out our psyches ... He somehow got into the shadows inside our bodies; he was able to nail down some of our secret fears and put them on-screen... the history of Lon Chaney is the history of unrequited loves. He brings that part of you out into the open, because you fear that you are not loved, you fear that you never will be loved, you fear there is some part of you that's grotesque, that the world will turn away from."
A Valentine for Lon Chaney, the Man of a Thousand Faces. (BugMeNot for the first link; more inside)
The quote above comes from Ray Bradbury.
posted by matteo at 12:50 PM on February 18, 2006
Lon Chaney — Tod Browning: The Unholy Two
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The Films of Lon Chaney
posted by matteo at 12:52 PM on February 18, 2006
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The Films of Lon Chaney
posted by matteo at 12:52 PM on February 18, 2006
there's lon chaney and there's lon chaney. please don't confuse them.
posted by namagomi at 1:01 PM on February 18, 2006
posted by namagomi at 1:01 PM on February 18, 2006
Oh, this is wonderful, matteo.
I have a very clear memory of my grandfather -- an immensely tough boxer and trashman who could make your hair go white with just a glare -- looking away from the television during the famous Phantom of the Opera scene where Chaney reveals that hideous half-skull face. He very quietly said it had badly frightened him when he first saw it at the theater years ago. It's the only thing I can remember him being visibly afraid of.
Great post! (You've had so many lately, too -- thank you so much!)
posted by melissa may at 1:09 PM on February 18, 2006
I have a very clear memory of my grandfather -- an immensely tough boxer and trashman who could make your hair go white with just a glare -- looking away from the television during the famous Phantom of the Opera scene where Chaney reveals that hideous half-skull face. He very quietly said it had badly frightened him when he first saw it at the theater years ago. It's the only thing I can remember him being visibly afraid of.
Great post! (You've had so many lately, too -- thank you so much!)
posted by melissa may at 1:09 PM on February 18, 2006
Holy cow, I didn't even realize there was a Lon Chaney/Tod Browning fest going on at UCLA currently! I know what I'm doing for the next couple of weekends...
posted by scody at 1:21 PM on February 18, 2006
posted by scody at 1:21 PM on February 18, 2006
As Good As it Gets???? Wow, one of these things is not like the others.
Great post, matteo!
posted by psmealey at 1:22 PM on February 18, 2006
Great post, matteo!
posted by psmealey at 1:22 PM on February 18, 2006
Well, scody, if you see a guy with big thick glasses and a corduroy blazer...that's prolly me, doing the exact same thing.
Excellent post, and fantastic article by Turran! Well played.
posted by ford and the prefects at 2:30 PM on February 18, 2006
Excellent post, and fantastic article by Turran! Well played.
posted by ford and the prefects at 2:30 PM on February 18, 2006
Great post, thanks. Most folks know him for his "monster" movie roles, like Phantom and Hunchback, but The Unknown is a pretty sick (and really good) move.
posted by marxchivist at 2:39 PM on February 18, 2006
posted by marxchivist at 2:39 PM on February 18, 2006
NEVER go on a hunting trip with Chaney.
posted by orthogonality at 3:41 PM on February 18, 2006
posted by orthogonality at 3:41 PM on February 18, 2006
Hee! A post to delight all the children of the night. ;)
posted by dejah420 at 5:15 PM on February 19, 2006
posted by dejah420 at 5:15 PM on February 19, 2006
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