By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Lon Chaney is one of the greatest actors of all time and LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT (1927) could be the best silent movie ever produced. Sadly, in 1967, there was a fire within the vault which held this and many other films. The last known copy of this was destroyed. Just a decade ago, TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES released a new cut of the movie with still photos so that new fans and old could enjoy the movie once more.
Inspector Burke (Lon Chaney Sr.) arrives at Sir. Roger Balfour’s home. Despite Balfour’s friend opposing the idea of suicide, Burke lists Balfour’s demise as such due to the note left behind.
Five years later a man in a winged cape, a large beaver skinned hat and a mouth filled with fangs shows up along with a dark-haired girl with eyeliner and a pale glowing complexion. Together they scare everyone in sight causing most to think they are vampires.
One is left to determine whether they are the undead or merely some really screwed up folks. There are so many great shots in this movie and so many wonderful expressions. It’s incredible that a silent movie can pack more of a punch than movies equipped with the best technology today. It shows that technology is no comparison for talent.
The costume worn by Lon Chaney as the villain is tremendous. He’s dark and sinister and ugly but absolutely captivating. One can’t look away when he’s on screen. It’s one of the most frightening costumes ever put forth and I would venture to say more disturbing than Freddy Krueger, Jason, and Michael Myers.
I truly hope a copy of the original surfaces as I would love to see the movie in its entirety as it was originally put together to watch. In the meantime, the version we have is more than adequate.
For any horror fan, this is a must watch and a must own. One must hold in reverence the movies that started the genre. What I will never understand though is how idiot critics can give the earned regard that a movie such as this deserves but then looks down upon any horror movie made after 1940.
An interesting fact is that in 1928, a man utilized this movie as part of his defense for murdering a woman. Supposedly, he went nutso after watching the movie. It didn’t help the case but it is quite interesting how some things never change. Horror and heavy metal have been blamed for more crimes than the government….and at least the government usually owns some responsibility, whereas horror and heavy metal are innocent parties dragged in by self-righteous pretentious jerks who frown on anything that isn’t pretentious.
Lon Chaney is a horror icon who will forever be remembered. This work is by far one of his finest and he was a tremendous asset to the genre.
The conclusion of LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT is awe-inspiring and deserves a standing ‘o’. Though some may be disappointed with the answers provided, I think it is a level of brilliance that has often been borrowed and at times by some of the best movies in the genre (e.g. APRIL FOOL’S DAY (1986), KILLER PARTY (1986) and THE COMEBACK (1978) ), but never duplicated in a way that could come close to the original.
Overall Review: 10/10
