MovieChat Forums > Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) Discussion > Lon Chaney Sr. deserves a new/better bio...

Lon Chaney Sr. deserves a new/better bio-pic!

posted 17 years ago by gillmanfan2000
24 replies | jump to latest

Seeing as most big budget Studio movies are aimed at semi-retarded 14 year old boys, it comes as no surprise that this riveting subject matter hasn't been given a new treatment.

A smart indie filmmaker could make a truly outstanding film about Lon Chaney Sr. without the need of 50+ million dollars worth of CGI effects, etc. Heck, one wouldn't even need to represent any specific (Universal) role/makeups by simply focusing on his fascinating personal life.

[–] eli_berry 17 years ago

Universal International did the best they could at the time. Okay, so the ending could be better. That's the best they could do---as Chaney kept to himself and they covered as much as was known about his personal life. Now that we know more about him, yes, it would be appropraite to make a new biopic about him. I would love to direct it myself, but being an indie film maker with no production company, there is no budget to work from. It's a great idea though.

[–] Blockdock 17 years ago

Tim Burton is a great choice

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] vinidici 17 years ago

And Johnny Depp would probably be the automatic choice to portray Chaney, Sr., were Burton to take on the directorial chores.

[–] philipphs 17 years ago

Spielberg and Christian Bale.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] EnyaMom 16 years ago

I agree, this movie is great.

¤¤ Shared dreams are shared smiles ¤¤

[–] TheaterRaven 16 years ago

I agree; I love this movie. A remake would be interesting to see, but Cagney did a phenomenal job in the role. Sure, this film was Hollywoodized, but I still love it. The ending always leaves moves me to tears no matter how many times I watch it.

This being said, I think Tim Burton and Johnny Depp would be interesting choices for director and lead actor. They both said in an unscripted interview for Sweeney Todd that if they could work with any actor, living or dead, Lon Sr. would be one of them and that he was one of the inspirations for Depp's Sweeney, so I think it'd be interesting to see their take on his life.

Nevermore!

[–] j-arf 14 years ago

I have just watched this movie again after first seeing it over 40 years ago. It is very much a movie of the 50s which plays loose with the facts. I am not saying that it is not a good film, it is. Cagney plays the lead very well but was nothing like Chaney in looks or manner. Neither was Roger Smith anything like Creighton Chaney. I also dont believe that Johnny Depp would be very good at playing Chaney. I am well aware that he can turn his hand to most parts but come on, have you seen pictures of Chaney without his makeup? Tim Burton would make it a very weird movie, because thats what he does. I dont believe that this would honour Chaney in any way.

I think for now we should leave this where it is until any serious chances to make a good movie about Chaney's life emerges.

[–] PhantomsMask1925 15 years ago

I'd say Russell Crowe would make a great Lon Chaney.....Especially since he is very "Anti-Hollywood" as Chaney was.

[–] lantzn 15 years ago

Looking at pictures of Lon Sr. makes me think that Kevin Spacey would make a great candidate for playing him in a new bio. They were close to the same height and build, and some simple prosthetics would transform him perfectly. I would love to see Dick Smith and Rick Baker do the makeup.

[–] JJC-3 14 years ago

I really want to vomitus all over the screen when anyone suggests a remake of any film made before 1970 or so.

There isn't one damn actor of today who can hold a candle to the great Jimmy Cagney, no one at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the same goes for Humphrey Bogart or Cary Grant or Spencer Tracy or Clark Gable......well you get my drift. No one is close to them in greatness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL the so called actors of today are inept hacks compared to the greats of yore!!!!!!!!

[–] TeenVamp 14 years ago

Christopher Lloyd would have made great Lon Chaney when he was in his 40's - 50's.

[–] ANDREWEHUNT 14 years ago

Back in the 1970s, Jack Nicholson would've made a great Lon Chaney. Check out this URL and see the resemblance:

http://eric.b.olsen.tripod.com/chaney.html

Of course, Nicholson is too old now to play the role.

"You can dish it out, but you got so you can't take it no more." - Caesar Enrico Bandello

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] QuarrellaDeVil 14 years ago

A smart indie filmmaker could make a truly outstanding film about Lon Chaney Sr. without the need of 50+ million dollars worth of CGI effects, etc.

I just saw MOATF last night, and when they got to "The Penalty," I thought to myself "OK, this is going to be interesting to see Cagney redo Chaney's costume." It was a complete let-down for me that, after building up with the references to Hazel's legless ex and the script for the movie, all we got was a drawing. If someone does do a Chaney biopic, I'd like to hope that the actor copies Chaney instead of has some bluescreen work done to erase his legs.

Heck, one wouldn't even need to represent any specific (Universal) role/makeups by simply focusing on his fascinating personal life.

I was rather bummed out that there wasn't more of Cagney as Chaney-in-costume. You can't do a whole movie of nothing but an actor recreating famous bits, but I'd have the same feeling if I left the theater and didn't get a little more than "The Miracle Man," "Laugh, Clown, Laugh," "Phantom of the Opera," and "Hunchback of Notre Dame."

[–] albawhall 13 years ago

I saw this bio-flick in 1957 after reading a spread about it in some mag when I was 13 or so. I even tried to glue a hard-boiled egg membrane onto my eyeball to get the blank eyeball effect he used to play Phroso 'Dead-Legs' in "West of Zanzibar". I was lucky not to get blinded by the model airplane glue and, needless to say, the membrane did not adhere.

Anyhoo, I noticed Roger Smith in a scene at the end, hopping in after a playing a round of tennis and Roger Smith was not anything like Lon Chaney Jr. would have been at that age. Smith resembled a Beverly Hills scion in his appearance. Why would they desecrate Lon Chaney Jr. by making him look like a bon vivant/ boulevardier? and not the ugly galoot he actually resembled?

[–] digitaldiva 13 years ago

I watched the film last night - the entire first half was devoted to Chaney's failed marriage and not to his filmmaking. When MOATF turned to his movies, the timelines were terribly confused, early Universal films the same period as his later works at MGM. The opulence and color of those early sets were missing and most importantly, the changes in Chaney's acting style from his early period to the late twenties when his acting was more subtle. Cagney gave his best as usual but he was too mature for the role. He was in his 50s, Chaney died at age 47. It didn't work.

[–] Beauty_Of_Buckshot 12 years ago

Doesn't need a remake but I'd love to see Daniel Day-Lewis turn his hand to it. Maybe Brian DePalma to direct?

[–] TheaterRaven 12 years ago

Maybe Brian DePalma to direct?

That would be amazing! Great choice for director.

Nevermore!

[–] Dan_Garten 9 years ago

Yeah.

[–] coldnaps 9 years ago

But what director would DePalma rip off for the remake?