I can't say I am surprised by Lon Chaney's fine performance here, as he continues to impress me with every film I see of his for the first time. Here he plays a clown named Tito, who comes across an abandoned little girl one day and decides to take her in and bring her up, naming her Simonetta. As the years progress, Simonetta develops into a beautiful young woman (Loretta Young) and Tito begins to fall in love with her. Problem is, so too has a young Count, with whom Tito must compete. But the magic is that we get to see Chaney's heart being broken even though he has to work as a laughing and joyful clown while crying on the inside.
I wouldn't say the movie is exceptional, but it's got sentiment and Chaney is very good. I found Loretta Young to be quite attractive, but I later discovered she was only 14 at the time (oops). You know, I'm surprised more people haven't talked about the incestuous implications of a film like this one, considering that the Chaney character was more or less the girl's "father". Not that I mind, you understand; these things do occur, and it's not like the girl was Tito's own flesh and blood or anything. But I do have to wonder why people didn't cut Woody Allen the same slack? *** out of ****
I wouldn't say the movie is exceptional, but it's got sentiment and Chaney is very good. I found Loretta Young to be quite attractive, but I later discovered she was only 14 at the time (oops). You know, I'm surprised more people haven't talked about the incestuous implications of a film like this one, considering that the Chaney character was more or less the girl's "father". Not that I mind, you understand; these things do occur, and it's not like the girl was Tito's own flesh and blood or anything. But I do have to wonder why people didn't cut Woody Allen the same slack? *** out of ****