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Man of a Thousand Faces (Widescreen) (Dual-layered DVD, Restored / Remastered)
- Starring: James Cagney, Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer
- Director: Joseph Pevney
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Description
One screen legend tips his hat to another as James Cagney portrays horror film icon Lon Chaney in Man of a Thousand Faces. Joseph Pevney's bio-pic takes a somewhat whitewashed view of Chaney's career, but Cagney is nothing short of riveting in the lead. The film begins as Chaney, the son of two deaf parents, is tasting success in vaudeville as a knockabout 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 his parents are deaf mutes, she recoils in revulsion. When she gives birth to a son, she refuses to look at him, thinking their child will also be deaf. Chaney proves her wrong, but Cleva reveals an underlying psychological affliction that grows in intensity 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, since after Cleva's departure, he hasn't the money to support him. To get his son back, he travels to Hollywood and takes every bit role available, using his gift for creative disguises to land several roles in one film. Chaney becomes well respected for his talents and his popularity becomes greater, and he eventually becomes a superstar. 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 the return of her son. Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide
Features
- Genre: Drama
- Category: Biopic [feature]
- Theme: Actor's Life, Crumbling Marriages, Fathers and Sons, Ladder to the Top
- Release Date: June 24, 2008
- Rating: NR (Not Rated)Rating Opens in New Window - Suitable for Children
- Studio: Universal Studios
- Lead Actors: James Cagney, Dorothy Malone, Jane Greer, Jim Backus, Robert Evans
- Supporting Actors: Robert Lyden, Marjorie Bennett, Clarence Kolb, Marjorie Rambeau, Celia Lovsky, Jeanne Cagney, Jack Albertson, Roger Smith, Rickie Sorenson, Dennis Rush, Nolan Leary, Simon Scott, Danny Beck, Philip Van Zandt, Hank Mann, Harry "Snub" Pollard
- Director: Joseph Pevney
- Picture Format: Widescreen
- Run Time: 2 hr 2 min
- Subtitle Language: French
- Format: DVD
Additional Information
- DPCI: 246-02-1075
- ASIN: B002ITW1J4
- Catalog #: 11368628
- Item can not be gift wrapped.
Shipping & Policies
- You may return this item to any Target store.Opens in New Window
- Shipping & Delivery InformationOpens in New Window
- Estimated Ship Dimensions : 7.6 inches length x 5.8 inches width x 0.6 inches height
- Estimated Ship Weight: 0.25 pound.
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Expert Reviews
The Man of a Thousand Faces is an above average 1950s biopic distinguished by a sympathetic performance by James Cagney as silent film star Lon Chaney. Produced by Universal, the studio for which Chaney had become a major star in The Phantom of the Opera, the Oscar-nominated screenplay is more fanciful tribute than objective history. Fortunately, the film has Cagney, and, fortunately for Cagney, the committee-written screenplay has a varied emotional range, allowing him to exhibit a showy spectrum of styles. While probably the best of director Joseph Pevney's feature films, there's little in the way of a director's voice. This was a studio project, and Pevney's forte was the efficient management of production budgets, not cinematic brilliance. Russell L. Metty's black white cinematography is a solid asset, giving portions of the film an appropriate 1920s feel, but overall this is a by-the-numbers production, brightened by its casting choices and Cagney's stellar lead performance. Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
