The Penalty (film)
Encyclopedia
The Penalty is an American
crime film
, originally released in 1920
. It was directed by Wallace Worsley
, and written by Philip Lonergan and Charles Kenyon
, based upon the pulp novel by Gouverneur Morris. It starred Lon Chaney
, Charles Clary
, Doris Pawn
, Jim Mason
, and Claire Adams
.
unbilled
), whose legs were mistakenly amputated
at a young age. Driven insane by the social pressures of being forced to walk in a crutch, Blizzard becomes a crime lord. He tracks down the doctor who performed his operation, and plots a twisted revenge — kidnap the doctor's daughter's fiance (Clary), and graft his legs onto Blizzard's stumps.
To assure audiences that Chaney was not an amputee, the original release of the film reportedly included a short epilogue clip showing Chaney out of character. This clip does not survive in the existing prints.
, but The Penalty and Treasure Island
, both of 1920, secured Chaney's place as one of America's most famous character actor
s, before moving on to his more famous roles in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame
and 1925's The Phantom of the Opera
.
In 2009 Empire Magazine named it #17 in a poll of the 20 Greatest Gangster Movies You've Never Seen* (*Probably).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
, originally released in 1920
1920 in film
The year 1920 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 27 - The Mark of Zorro, starring Douglas Fairbanks opens.-Top grossing films :-Films released in 1920:U.S.A. unless stated*The $1,000,000 Reward...
. It was directed by Wallace Worsley
Wallace Worsley
Wallace A. Worsley Sr. was an American stage actor who became a director in the silent film era. Worsley directed 29 films during the years 1918-1928 and acted in 7 films. He directed several films starring Lon Chaney Sr...
, and written by Philip Lonergan and Charles Kenyon
Charles Kenyon
Charles Kenyon was an American screenwriter, who wrote or co-wrote the screenplays for 114 films between 1915 and 1946...
, based upon the pulp novel by Gouverneur Morris. It starred Lon Chaney
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
, Charles Clary
Charles Clary
Charles Clary was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 206 films between 1910 and 1930.He was born in Charleston, Illinois and died on his 58th birthday in Los Angeles, California...
, Doris Pawn
Doris Pawn
Doris Pawn was an American actress who appeared in films of the silent era.-Early life:Pawn was born and raised in Norfolk, Nebraska. She was the third Nebraskan woman to make a name for herself as an actress. Previously, Mrs...
, Jim Mason
Jim Mason (actor)
Jim Mason was an American actor. He appeared in 173 films between 1914 and 1952.He was born in Paris and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack.-Selected filmography:* Nan of Music Mountain...
, and Claire Adams
Claire Adams
Claire Adams was a Canadian silent film actress and benefactor. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as the daughter of Stanley Wells Adams, a Welsh-born accountant, and his Canadian wife, Lillian Adams...
.
Cast
- Charles ClaryCharles ClaryCharles Clary was an American actor of the silent era. He appeared in 206 films between 1910 and 1930.He was born in Charleston, Illinois and died on his 58th birthday in Los Angeles, California...
- Dr. Ferris - Doris PawnDoris PawnDoris Pawn was an American actress who appeared in films of the silent era.-Early life:Pawn was born and raised in Norfolk, Nebraska. She was the third Nebraskan woman to make a name for herself as an actress. Previously, Mrs...
- Barbary Nell - James Mason - Frisco Pete
- Lon ChaneyLon Chaney, Sr.Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
- Blizzard - Milton Ross - Lichtenstein
- Ethel Grey TerryEthel Grey TerryEthel Grey Terry was an American actress of the silent era. She appeared in 52 films between 1914 and 1928...
- Rose - Kenneth HarlanKenneth HarlanKenneth Harlan was an American leading man of the silent film era, playing mostly romantic leads or adventurer types.-Career:...
- Dr. Wilmot Allen - Claire AdamsClaire AdamsClaire Adams was a Canadian silent film actress and benefactor. She was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as the daughter of Stanley Wells Adams, a Welsh-born accountant, and his Canadian wife, Lillian Adams...
- Barbara Ferris
unbilled
- Montgomery Carlyle - A Crook
- Cesare GravinaCesare GravinaCesare Gravina was an Italian actor of the silent era. He appeared in 60 films between 1912 and 1929.He was born in Naples, Italy.-Selected filmography:* The Fatal Ring * Madame X...
- Art Teacher - Lee PhelpsLee PhelpsLee Phelps was an American film actor. He appeared in over 600 films between 1917 and 1953, mainly in uncredited roles...
- Policeman - Madlaine TraverseMadlaine TraverseMadlaine Traverse was an American stage and screen actress from Cleveland, Ohio. Mary was her birth name. In the course of her career she is alternately billed as "Madaline Traverse", "Madeline Traverse" and "Madeline Travers".-Silent movie actress:Traverse was a leading lady of the Fox Film...
- Woman - Edouard TrebaolEdouard TrebaolEdouard Trebaol , was an American actor. He appeared in 5 films between 1920 and 1923.He was born in Hollywood, California, USA and died in San Mateo County, California.Trebaol was the son of French immigrants...
- Bubbles - Clarence Wilson - A Crook
Plot
The film follows gangster Blizzard (Lon ChaneyLon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
), whose legs were mistakenly amputated
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
at a young age. Driven insane by the social pressures of being forced to walk in a crutch, Blizzard becomes a crime lord. He tracks down the doctor who performed his operation, and plots a twisted revenge — kidnap the doctor's daughter's fiance (Clary), and graft his legs onto Blizzard's stumps.
Production
The apparatus worn by Chaney to simulate amputated legs, which consisted primarily of two wooden buckets and multiple leather straps, was complex and incredibly painful. Chaney's knees sat in the buckets, while his lower legs were tied back. Studio doctors asked that Chaney not wear the device, but he insisted on doing so, so that his costume would be authentic.To assure audiences that Chaney was not an amputee, the original release of the film reportedly included a short epilogue clip showing Chaney out of character. This clip does not survive in the existing prints.
Legacy
The Penalty was one of Chaney's breakout roles, showcasing his taste for the macabre and talent for contortion and disguise. He had previously demonstrated similar qualities in the previous year's The Miracle ManThe Miracle Man (1919 film)
The Miracle Man is a 1919 dramatic film based on a 1914 play by George M. Cohan, which in turn is based on the novel of the same title by Frank L. Packard. It was directed by George Loane Tucker and stars Thomas Meighan, Betty Compson, and Lon Chaney...
, but The Penalty and Treasure Island
Treasure Island (1920 film)
Treasure Island is a 1920 silent film adaptation of the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, directed by Maurice Tourneur, and released by Paramount Pictures...
, both of 1920, secured Chaney's place as one of America's most famous character actor
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
s, before moving on to his more famous roles in 1923's The Hunchback of Notre Dame
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film)
The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a 1923 American film directed by Wallace Worsley and produced by Carl Laemmle and Irving Thalberg. It stars Lon Chaney, Sr., Patsy Ruth Miller, Norman Kerry, Nigel de Brulier, Brandon Hurst. The film is the second most famous adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel,...
and 1925's The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1925 film)
The Phantom of the Opera is a 1925 American silent horror film adaptation of the Gaston Leroux novel of the same title directed by Rupert Julian. The film featured Lon Chaney in the title role as the deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House, causing murder and mayhem in an attempt to force...
.
In 2009 Empire Magazine named it #17 in a poll of the 20 Greatest Gangster Movies You've Never Seen* (*Probably).
External links
- The Penalty at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...