The Black Bird

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Tomatometer
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TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

33%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 92

Movie Info

A charitable and respected British clergyman leads a devious dual existence, by dark assuming the alternate identity of cunning criminal ringleader "The Black Bird." This melodramatic and characteristically grim Lon Chaney/Tod Browning collaboration stars "The Man of a Thousand Faces" in two distinct characterizations.

Rating:

NR
Genre:

Classics, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Tod Browning
Written By:

Waldemar Young, Tod Browning
On Disc/Streaming:

May 17, 2012
Runtime:

77 minutes
Studio:

MGM

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Cast

Lon Chaney
as The Black Bird/The Bishop

Owen Moore
as West End Bertie

Renée Adorée
as Fifi

Doris Lloyd
as Limehouse Polly

Andy McLennan
as The Shadow

Andy MacLennan
as The Shadow

William Weston
as Red

Eric Mayne
as Sightseer

Sidney Bracey
as Bertie's No. 1 Man

Sidney Bracy
as Bertie's No. 1 Man

Ernie S. Adams
as Bertie's No. 2 Man

Lionel Belmore

Billy Mack

Peggy Best

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Critic Reviews for The Black Bird

All Critics (2) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (2)

It's a good melodrama, excellently produced. Chaney handles his two parts well and Waldemar Young's scenario has been so constructed that the rather unique dual role is plausible at all times.

Jun 29, 2011 | Full Review…

Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic
The movie tells a Jekyll-and-Hyde story, with criminal greed and opportunity replacing science as the catalyst of willing transformation.

Jun 27, 2012 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)