Lon Chaney had yet to star in his most famous role as The Phantom of the Opera when he wrote this piece about the importance of actor's characterization that was included in the book, THE TRUTH ABOUT MOVIES: BY THE STARS. Edited by Laurence A. Hughes, it was published in 1924.
This was not the first time Chaney had commented on the acting profession, and as you can see, he took the subject very seriously. His portrayals of tragic and multi-ethnic characters were unequaled in the silent film era.
This is fascinating to see, particularly at this point in Chaney's career. Even though these days his roles as Quasimodo, Erik, and "The Man in the Beaver Hat" are iconic, audiences of his time were able to see a wider range of roles that displayed his gifts as an actor, and not just his skills at creating a new "face."
ReplyDeleteWhile I can't remember exactly what she said about him, Joan Crawford credited her experience working with Chaney on THE UNKNOWN as a turning point in her career that shaped her approach to acting.
Thanks for posting this excerpt from what must be a fascinating book on early Hollywood!
-- hsc
Chaney was indeed, dead serious about his acting and commented on its importance more than once. I seem to recall the Crawford anecdote as well, but can't remember where I came across it.
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