James Cagney is well cast as film icon Lon Chaney in Man of a Thousand Faces, Joseph Pevney’s biopic, which, despite whitewashing its subject’s career and personal problems, is still compelling.
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Theatrical release poster
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The tale begins as Chaney, the son of two deaf parents, gets successful in vaudeville as a juggler, mime, and quick-change artist.
Chaney meets Cleva Creighton (Dorothy Malone) and hires her as his assistant. They fall in love and marry, but when Chaney reveals that his parents are deaf mutes, she recoils.
When she gives birth to a son, she refuses to look at him, thinking their child will also be deaf.
Cleva reveals unstable personality as Chaney’s vaudeville success increases. When Chaney becomes a vaudeville star, Cleva walks out on both Chaney and her son.
Chaney’s son is sent to a home, as he has no money to support him. To get his son back, Chaney travels to Hollywood and takes every bit role available, using his gift for creative disguises.
Chaney gets respect for his talents and becomes more popular. Along the way, he meets Hazel Bennett (Jane Greer) and they fall in love and marry. But his happiness is shattered when Cleva comes back into his life and demands back their son.
You can spot Robert Evans who would become a great producer, playing producer Irving Thalberg, a piece of casting recommended by Thalberg’’s widow, Norma Shearer.
The cast also includes Marjorie Rambeau, Jim Backus, Jeanne Cagney, and Jack Albertson.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Story and Screenplay (Original): Ralph Wheelwright (story), R. Wright Campbell, Ivan Goff, and Ben Roberts (screenplay).
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The original Writing Oscar went to George Wells for Minnelli’s comedy, Designing Woman.
Credits:
Running time: 122 minutes.
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Written by Ivan Goff
DVD: July 21, 1998
MCA Universal
