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| The Ace of Hearts (1921) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 4 2010, 06:28 AM (193 Views) | |
| Laughing Gravy | Mar 4 2010, 06:28 AM Post #1 |
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Over at the Greenbriar Picture Shows Mr. McElwee has been discussing the great Lon Chaney (http://greenbriarpictureshows.blogspot.com/) so I thought what th' heck, let's watch one of his films. This one is a good print and a nice soundtrack, and can be found on the Lon Chaney set from TCM/Warners. There's a secret society of assassins, and they've chosen their next victim, grumpy Raymond Hatton (who, incidentally, appears to be very grumpy but with no other reason to be selected for assassination, although some days, just bein' grumpy is enough). Society member John Bowers is selected for the task by lot (he draws the Ace of Hearts) much to Lon's chagrin, because the only female member of the group, Leatrice Joy, as pretty as she is fanatic, immediately sleeps with the guy (while Lon stands outside in the rain looking up at the window. Ewwww). Naturally, after having sex, the young couple doesn't wanna kill anybody (nothing like hot sex to give a young couple an attitude readjustment). Mr. Bowers is thus marked for assassination, and Lon is given the task, and he wonders if Ms. Joy is gonna do the nasty with HIM now. This is a very silly movie, but as usual with Chaney pictures, it's an excuse to simply watch HIM. He wears no special makeup other than a wig that makes him look like a pilgrim for some reason, one of the silliest of his 1000 faces. Early in the picture, he's subtle and quite good; he shows his love for Ms. Joy simply through his eyes, not moving any of his body whatsoever. Later, he gets rather melodramatic and starts emoting, and, well, ya know how that goes with him. It's worth mentioning that this Secret Society decides to kill Mr. Grumpy Pants Hatton by blowing him up while he eats breakfast in a crowded restaurant, guaranteeing that innocents will die with him. I would think blowing up innocents is a worse crime than being grumpy. It's a goofy organization, anyway, and why anybody would join it is beyond me. (The restaurant, by the way, is remarkable - you walk in the door and have to walk down a hallway that appears to be about 3 city blocks long before you can get a seat.) I liked the scene where they draw the cards, too - director Wally Worsley shoots from above, and it's disconcerting for us, the viewer, to be suddenly up in the rafters. Worsley directed a slew of Chaney pictures, including Hunchback of Notre Dame. The film includes bonus commentary by Michael F. Blake, author of books that I love on Chaney. This ain't Phantom of the Opera, but it's a fun little movie. Silly, though. |
| "I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley | |
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| Stony Brooke da Mesquiteer | Mar 4 2010, 07:11 AM Post #2 |
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Sapient Balconeer
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I saw this on TCM a few months ago when they'd show silent films late Sun nite/Mon morn, and I liked it. I remember the host saying that the ending was changed, but I won't post anything about that. |
| It's like Rodney King used to say, "Can't we all get a bong." | |
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| panzer the great & terrible | Mar 4 2010, 07:16 AM Post #3 |
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Mouth Breather
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TCM always stops with the silents a month before the Oscars, but they'll be back next week if the past is any guide. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
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| Frank Hale | Mar 5 2010, 05:51 PM Post #4 |
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Balcony Gang, Foist Class
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Saw this last year and already have trouble remembering it, but I think you nailed it, Mr. G. Mr. Chaney is the whole show in one of his lesser efforts. |
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| panzer the great & terrible | Mar 5 2010, 09:42 PM Post #5 |
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Mouth Breather
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Since I'm no Chaney fan I'll be sure to give this one a wide berth. |
| Life is just a bowl of cherries, it's too mysterious, don't take it serious... | |
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6:23 AM Jul 11