Customer Reviews

The Shock

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THE SHOCK is one of the Lon Chaney movies long available to collectors and fans, as it was, for many years, available in 8mm. and 16mm. formats. The source material for this release suffers from a "grainy" look, to me, but sitting further back from the screen helped a lot. The musical score is, I think, appropriate, and, overall, I recommend this disc, not only because it is one of Mr. Chaney's best, but also because, for the price, I don't think the quality is bad. I'm personally grateful so many of the great silents are being made available in "bargain" editions, not always the most desirable editions, but, more often than not, I've found, very watchable. Here, Chaney plays disabled villain, Wilse Dilling, and this film has to be one of the more suspenseful movies of the twenties. I believe that, if you're going to rely on video to see classics such as this, this release is fine.

Lon simply put in my opinion is the GREATEST actor who ever lived.
He was born to deaf parents which only helped his expressions
and mannerism's. He also was a most gifted make-up artist
and when you watch his films he is 90% of the time completely
different. Robert De Niro who is a fine actor and put on
a lot of weight and worked out for the role Raging Bull got
so much praise,and deserved it. I still would like to point
out that Lon Chaney was doing stuff like Bobbie in the 20's.
For example Lon had to play a guy with no legs in the Penalty
and strapped his legs behind his back for long and excruciating
periods of time. He from what I read took method acting to the
next level for some people who worked with him said his secret
to his art was that he was so into the role he was playing that
he became the character and was no longer acting the part but
being! He supposedly was not easy to talk to when in character
and if conversation took place at the time of the movie shooting
you talked to who he was playing and not Lon. He has played
all kinds of roles from a armless man to a old woman. A crying
clown to a hunchback. A old Asian man to a Marine Sergeant.
His most famous will always be The Phantom of the Opera which
still till this day displays the most HORRIFIC face on celluloid.
Please see Lon Chaney at least once in your life and find out why
a actor like Peter Sellers has said THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER
ONE LIKE HIM(quoted from HERE COMES THE STARS MAG.67) Some say
Olivier-Brando-Streep-De Niro-Pacino-Spacey and Spencer Tracy
and they are very fine actors......But they are no CHANEY!

This 1923 silent film starring Lon Chaney is one you must see! I believe this is one of Chaney's best films. With silent films the actors had to convey their craft through expressions and body language, Lon Chaney did it best.

Here, Chaney portrays Wilse Dilling a cripple (yes, we're not yet politically correct in the 1920s) a career criminal, that is sent by "Queen Ann (Christine Mayo)--a crime lord to blackmail a highly respected banker (and her former love)in a small town. Dilling meets the banker's daughter (Virginia Valli), falls in love and re-evaluates his life.

The DVD transfer is pretty good, but is a bit grainy. But this is a 1923 film and I was happy it could be perserved on this format for all to see.

Please watch and appreciate this great classic film.

Thanks Mr. Blackshere for giving me the desire to see this movie again. I haven't seen it since film school and enjoyed it once again!

Lon Chaney was without a doubt one of the best actors of the silent film era. I've had the privilege of seeing quite of few of his wonderful films, but this one is probably my favorite of all of them. While not in the "horror" genre of some of his movies, this one is suspenseful, romantic, and exciting without the macabre or melodramatic overtones that often took over in some of his later films.

Released in 1923, "The Shock" centers around the criminal underworld in early 20th century San Francisco. Chaney gives a moving performance as Wilse Dilling, a crippled criminal who is sent to a small town to carry out orders from his cruel crime boss Queen Ann, but finds he cannot continue with his mission when he falls in love with the local banker's daughter. Playing the role 'straight' and avoiding reliance on heavy makeup as he did in "Hunchback", Lon makes Dilling a forceful and sympathetic character without seeming to overact him or make him too sentimental. His trademark facial expressions and pantomime acting are some of the best in his career, and his effective use of physical aptitude in the many scenes with Wilse's wheelchair and crutches perfectly capture the difficulties, constraints and frustrations of those who are disabled.

The print quality of this DVD isn't that great, to be honest. There are prominent scratch marks and dust present in nearly every scene, but it is certainly far from being just merely watchable. For a bargain edition of a film from 1923, it is actually pretty good.

All in all, "The Shock" is a fantastic film. Fast-paced and full of action, drama, suspense, and pathos (not to mention an appropriate and surprising ending), it is one classic silent film not to be missed.

Lon sr. goes up against the criminal underworld and it's powerful, sadistic boss, Queen Ann! Lots of action and pathos. We even get an earthquake! Fantastic stuff! Belongs in every silent film collection...