Just watched this recently on TCM and my wife and I both had our jaws on the floor. It starts out very sweetly with Lon Chaney (Tito) and pal (Simon) as traveling circus clowns in Italy. Chaney discovers an abandoned little girl and decides to raise her as his own daughter, despite his partner's objections. To win Simon over, he names the girl "Simonetta."
Years later, Simonetta has grown into quite a beautiful young woman. After she gets dolled up to join the act as a tightrope walker, Chaney feels something stirring inside that makes him feel rather uncomfortable. It made us feel uncomfortable, too. Shades of Woody Allen! He's old and basically her father. Double ick factor.
More times passes and Chaney falls into depression due to his unrequited love for Simonetta. He's the clown who cannot laugh. And then she gets involved with someone else -- Luigi, a rich count who can't stop laughing. On the one hand, you want to feel for Chaney (he was quite likable in the beginning), but certainly not for his situation.
Chaney gives an excellent performance and speaks volumes with his his face alone. He's much more understated here than films made just a few years earlier, such as Phantom of the Opera. You also to see what he really looked like (at the beginning anyway -- his old age make-up is excellent). I certainly would have rated this film higher were it not for the double ick factor.
The ending, while semi-tragic, seems to be missing something. There is a lost reel and I'm wondering if that's where it went. There's no follow-up with Simonetta.
Years later, Simonetta has grown into quite a beautiful young woman. After she gets dolled up to join the act as a tightrope walker, Chaney feels something stirring inside that makes him feel rather uncomfortable. It made us feel uncomfortable, too. Shades of Woody Allen! He's old and basically her father. Double ick factor.
More times passes and Chaney falls into depression due to his unrequited love for Simonetta. He's the clown who cannot laugh. And then she gets involved with someone else -- Luigi, a rich count who can't stop laughing. On the one hand, you want to feel for Chaney (he was quite likable in the beginning), but certainly not for his situation.
Chaney gives an excellent performance and speaks volumes with his his face alone. He's much more understated here than films made just a few years earlier, such as Phantom of the Opera. You also to see what he really looked like (at the beginning anyway -- his old age make-up is excellent). I certainly would have rated this film higher were it not for the double ick factor.
The ending, while semi-tragic, seems to be missing something. There is a lost reel and I'm wondering if that's where it went. There's no follow-up with Simonetta.