The Penalty

1920

The Penalty

Critics Consensus

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The Penalty Photos

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Movie Info

This picture, based on the novel by Gouverneur Morris, was a tour de force for Lon Chaney, who plays a legless kingpin of the Barbary Coast underworld. When Buzzard (Chaney) was a boy, his legs were amputated by an incompetent doctor; now that he's an adult, his goal is to get revenge on the doctor, to become the ruler of the underworld and to have someone else's legs grafted onto his stumps. But an operation on a blood clot in his brain converts his evil mind to one that wants to do good. Rose (Ethel Grey Terry), the secret service agent who has been keeping tabs on Buzzard, falls in love with him now that he has reformed and marries him. Buzzard's old associates, however, aren't so thrilled with the change and they murder him.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Wallace Worsley Sr.
Written By:

Charles Kenyon, Gouveneur Morris, Philip Lonergan
In Theaters:

Jan 1, 1920 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Mar 8, 2005
Runtime:

6 minutes
Studio:

Samuel Goldwyn Company

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Cast

Lon Chaney
as Blizzard

Kenneth Harlan
as Wilmot

Wilson Hummell

Doris Pawn
as Barbary Nell

Lee Phelps
as cop

J. Montgomery Carlyle
as A Crook

Jim Mason
as Frisco Pete

Lionel Barrymore

Claire Adams
as Barbara

Milton Ross
as Lichtenstein

Ethel Grey Terry
as Rose

Edouard Trebaol
as Bubble

Charles Clary
as Dr. Ferris

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Critic Reviews for The Penalty

All Critics (5) | DVD (1)

Demonstrates the wonder and value of pre-digital moviemmaking: For all intents and purposes, Chaney *is* a legless man in 'The Penalty,' and the film is a documentary record of this impersonation.

Nov 16, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Famous scene of Chaney straightening twisted legs is real plus.

May 9, 2007 | Rating: 4/5

Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com
Somewhat interesting for historical reasons and for Chaney's memorable performance.

Oct 16, 2006 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The Penalty is by far one of the greatest unsung achievements of über-legend Lon Chaney

Jul 18, 2003 | Rating: 4/4

Emily Blunt
Blunt Review
The reason the film still works instead of surviving merely as a somewhat hysterical anti-communist message film is Lon Chaney's performance.

Nov 11, 2002 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
Goatdog's Movies

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for The Penalty

Nov 22, 2011

This movie was very predictable, but Cheney does a great job as usual in his strange role of a criminal kingpin without legs. The romantic part of it was good too, although sometimes unintentionally funny. But then the ending was really very sad. Overall it was pretty good, but it could have been better.

Aj V Super Reviewer
Oct 20, 2009

Lon Chaney is awesome

Brody M Super Reviewer
Sep 15, 2007

A true horror film. Lon Chaney's acting is just perfectible as the mad man whose legs were unnecessarily amputated since his childhood. A good, creepy silent story set in San Francisco. 77/100

Edgar C Super Reviewer