Hitchcoc This was as good as it gets for Lon Chaney, Sr. While the tale itself suspect, his performance rises above. We have all heard the stories of how this man could put himself through agony for a role. This is a prime example. A boy has his legs unnecessarily amputated by an inexperienced doctor. As he grows, he goes over to the dark side and becomes pure evil. Chaney somehow tucked those legs into some prosthetics. It must have been extremely painful. His primary victims are women whom he subverts through his gangland like power. It's hard to be totally appalled at his actions because he certainly is a victim. But he has choices. As time goes along, there are those who are willing to befriend him and actually express love toward him. He had one of the most emotionally expressive faces to ever grace the screen. Unfortunately, the conclusion sort of dies on the vine.

wes-connors Lon Chaney (as Blizzard) is the underworld lord and master of San Francisco, despite a striking disability - he has no legs. Mr. Chaney's "Blizzard" was, as a boy, a "victim of San Francisco traffic", and had his legs amputated above the knees, after an accident. Moreover, the amputations were unnecessary; they were needlessly preformed by young, inexperienced Charles Clary (as Dr. Ferris); Mr. Clary also leaves a brain contusion untreated. As a boy, Chaney hears an older, experienced doctor scold Mr. Clary on the unnecessary procedure; but, they cover up the crime, and dismiss the young amputee's protests as delusions, caused by ether.Twenty-seven years later, the powerful crime lord decides to enact his terrifying revenge on the doctor who cut off his legs. Cheney answers a newspaper ad posted by Clary's daughter Claire Adams (as Barbara Ferris); she is a sculptress, looking for someone to model Satan, for her bust: "WANTED -- Model to pose for statue of 'Satan After the Fall.' If you think you look like Satan, apply at studio of Barbara Ferris, 32 Institute Place. 8284" The Satanic-looking Chaney is the perfect candidate to sit for the young woman; and, Ms. Adams welcomes him into her art studio, unaware (yet) of his unfortunate association with her father. Meanwhile, Cheney's underworld operation is being infiltrated by a spy; lawman Milton Ross (as Lichtenstein) has sent his best undercover agent, Ethel Grey Terry (as Rose), to gets the goods on Chaney. He is especially interested in why Chaney has his "show girls" making thousands of hats… "The Penalty" has a noticeable degree of implausibility, as do many films; and, it does become make the film more than a little distracting, at times. Yet, Chaney's performance is so commanding, and so thoroughly enjoyable, it's really pointless to list faults. The film works on the strength of Lon Chaney's performance. Director Wallace Worsley, photographer Donovan D. Short, and art director Gilbert White contribute to the master, by giving the film a great, atmospheric look.Among the supporting players, James Mason (as Frisco Pete) is easily the standout. Young Edouard Trebaol (as Bubbles) is also well-employed, and natural, alongside the high degree of emoting present amongst the adults. Trebaol memorably re-teamed with Chaney in "Oliver Twist" (they were "Fagin" and "The Artful Dodger"). Interestingly, in the original Gouveneur Morris novel, "Bubbles" had an expanded role, which eventually revealed him to be the son of "Blizzard". That subplot would have added greatly to this film, further contrasting cruelty and humanity; and, of course, recalling the boy "Blizzard", and his earlier loss. It would have also confirmed the adult Chaney's obvious sexual prowess (note how women kneel down to play Chaney's pedals has he tickles the ivories).Whatever its faults, "The Penalty" set the standard for the expertly performed and extremely successful Lon Chaney role - grotesque, anguished, sympathetic, and/or deformed. It started here. Give yourself a penalty if you pass up this Chaney classic. ********** The Penalty (11/15/20) Wallace Worsley ~ Lon Chaney, Ethel Grey Terry, Claire Adams, Jim Mason

Scarecrow-88 The wrongful amputation of a child's legs due to a doctor's misdiagnosis leads to the embittered rage of the patient as an adult. The coping with not having legs, often repulsing others and pretty much ruining the relationship with his father, Blizzard(Lon Chaney in a mesmerizing performance)has risen to the ranks of Master of the Underworld in San Francisco. He's a cruel, sadistic tyrant who rules his district(The Barbary Coast)with such an iron fist that even police rather fear him. He has dreamed for years of having new legs grafted, following the success in the surgical field of Dr. Ferris(Charles Clary)with a demented goal of revenge if his desires aren't met. He's also planning to take over San Francisco as a Caesar(..he's really quite mad)with his dance-hall girls making hats so that he can start a revolt using supposed foreigners as his bait to draw out the authorities. Anyway, secret agent Rose(Ethel Grey Terry)is moved in to snuff out Blizzard's operation, but soon finds herself in love with him. Blizzard also has plotted a scheme to get back at Ferris by moving in on his daughter..Blizzard sits in as a model for daughter Barbara(Doris Pawn)whose creating a sculpture of Satan, while her fiancé is enraged with jealousy and fear. For a good hour and fifteen minutes, Chaney etches the portrait of a man consumed with evil and displays this cunning shark playing a game with others as his face twists in snarls and sneaky grins. I don't buy the idea, though, that a contusion at the base of the skull, placing pressure on the brain, causes Blizzard to become the purely maniacal ringleader of crime he so becomes, but the film's roots is in tragedy and "paying the piper" so the filmmakers seemed determined to have him go out facing the music as a wholesome human being.

rekshop I am increasingly becoming disappointed in the "modern" soundtracks that are being applied to the "reconstituted" silents. While watching the film, it quickly becomes obvious that the sound track technology is way ahead of the technology of the times (1920).While I DO think that the soundtrack to this particular film DOES relay all the proper emotion, tension, sadness, etc..and seems to be well synchronized to each scene, I do take issue to the fact that some of this soundtrack (particulary the scenes where the music implies "scheming" or clumsy movement, e.g. the mocking tuba over the sound of synthesized metal or "mechanical metallic sounds" when the amputee is featured, is COMPLETELY out of character for a film of the time (1920). No such sounds or music could be made in that way 86 years ago. It is just WAY too SYNTHETIC. And "synthetic" wasn't even a WORD back in 1920!The recreated soundtrack should stick to, as close as possible, to whatever technology was available at the time. (Piano, orchestra, etc.)I know what a tremendous effort it takes to bring these films "out of the grave" and to preserve what precious ones are left(less than 10% of all Silent's ever made???? gees!!. People need to get an idea of what early cinematography was like. Let's just take a few more moments to try and preserve, as much as possible the "authenticity" of the audio technology that was available at the time at which it was made. Other than that..... kudos's to all the people involved in restoring this film to make it available for those of us who treasure this rare but very historically relevant art form. Highest regards..... REKSHOP.