Lon Chaney is a real stand up guy!

[mike]

http://www.lonchaney.com/store_standups.html

It's a fact.

 

["Skeet" McD]

And a MARINE! (at least on the screen)

http://www.lonchaney.com/store_standups.html

It's a fact.

Just got around to finishing watching TELL IT TO THE MARINES (1926) which TCM aired this week...a very rare appearance, apparently, of ol' Lon in his own face...sans even standard stage makeup: we reported felt it would detract from the almost documentary feel of the film.

And, while the basic storyline will leave you in no suspense as to what's going to happen at any given moment....the film really IS quite interesting (and enjoyable) as not only entertainment, but a window into the past. It was shot with what appears to have been massive assistance from the Corps, much of it shot in San Diego. You want loving shots of lots of 1920s USMC uniforms and equipment?--see the film.

An interesting sidelight (to me, at least)....the romantic lead's nickname in the story is "Skeet"....now, 1926 is the year that the game which would be called Skeet appeared on the national scene, and it wasn't until a few years later that it was given that name, as part of national contest. The contest was won by one Gertrude Hurlbut; she said it came from a twisting of the Scandinavian rootword for "shoot." Now I'm beginning to wonder...about how prevalent that word/name might have been in the '20s.

Take-home message: if you can see this film on TCM, do so. The transfer is spectacular, and the entirely new score by the very talented Robert Israel is, as usual, both entirely believable from a period point of view and successful in supporting the action.

"Skeet"

 

[Feraud]

This one would be great in the family room!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

The clown was by far the scariest. :icon_smil

 

[Feraud]

[QUOTE="Skeet" McD]Just got around to finishing watching TELL IT TO THE MARINES (1926) which TCM aired this week...a very rare appearance, apparently, of ol' Lon in his own face...sans even standard stage makeup: we reported felt it would detract from the almost documentary feel of the film.

And, while the basic storyline will leave you in no suspense as to what's going to happen at any given moment....the film really IS quite interesting (and enjoyable) as not only entertainment, but a window into the past. [/QUOTE]

I saw this film and thought it was great. Chaney has quickly become one of my favorite actors. With or without makeup his face was very expressive. He conveyed more from his expressions that most do with their voices.

I might have mentioned this in another thread but did Chaney create the now typical d.i. character?