Six years after his death, M-G-M was still keeping that Lon Chaney mojo going in this fantastical tale of revenge. Lionel Barrymore (in the putative Chaney role) makes an escape from Devil’s Island with a mad scientist who specializes in reducing animals who remain alive though no bigger than a toy. Hmm. Soon, back in Paris, he disguises himself as a kindly doll-making madame and is able to plant murderous ‘living dolls’ in the homes of the men who framed her (er . . . him) for embezzlement. Thanks to some remarkably fine trick camera work and a cleverly wound plot, the story manages to stay just this side of ridiculous. Some of it is seriously creepy, helped by an unexpectedly A-list cast for this sort of film: Barrymore, Maureen O’Sullivan, Frank Lawton & Rafaela Ottiano were just off DAVID COPPERFIELD/’35, and Robert Grieg, Arthur Hohl & Henry B Walthall, all expert scene stealers. Connecting the dots is Lon Chaney’s favorite helmer, Tod Browning, in his last major release, who finally makes a sound film that compares favorably with the best of his silent work. Check out THE UNKNOWN/’27 to see the Chaney-Browning team at its greatest . . . and sickest.
1 comment:
It will be great to watch Robin Williams,i have bought tickets
from TicketFront.com looking forward to it.
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