The penalty

Movie
Original title	The penalty
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1920
length	77 minutes
Rod
Director	Wallace Worsley
script	Charles Kenyon Philip Lonegan Claire Adams Governor Morris
production	Samuel Goldwyn
camera	Donovan Short
occupation
Lon Chaney : Blizzard Charles Clary : Dr. Ferris Claire Adams : Barbara Ferris Ethel Gray Terry : Rose Kenneth Harlan : Dr. Wilmot Allan James Mason : Frisco Pete Milton Ross : Lichtenstein Doris Pawn : Barbary Nell

Lon Chaney with Ethel Gray Terry in The Penalty

The Penalty [ ˈpɛnl̩tɪ ] ( listen ^{? / I} ) is an American silent drama directed by Wallace Worsley . The film hit cinemas in the United States in August 1920 .

action

After an accident, the inexperienced surgeon Dr. Ferris unnecessarily amputated both legs. 27 years later, the boy has become the master criminal Blizzard. The police officer Lichtenstein smuggles the undercover agent Rose into his organization. Dr. Ferris has now become a recognized surgeon whose daughter dedicates herself to sculpture. As a model for a sculpture of Satan, Blizzard gains her trust and plans to force her father to give him the legs of her fiancé Dr. Transplant Wilmot. Dr. Ferris agrees, but instead operates an injury to Blizzard's brain. When he wakes up from anesthesia, he is released from his anti-social behavior, but is shot by one of his accomplices.

background

The Penalty is based on the novel of the same name by Governor Morris.

Chaney tied his legs back for the role and performed impressive stunts . So he jumps off a platform and lands on his knees and climbs stairs. For Chaney, The Penalty was his breakthrough after his huge success in The Miracle Man .

Cesare Gravina can be seen in a minor supporting role as an art teacher. He remains unnamed in the credits.

The film is now in the public domain in the United States .

criticism

The film received mostly positive reviews. On the film review site Rotten Tomatoes , the share of positive reviews is 83%.

literature

• Robert K. Klepper: Silent Films, 1877-1996. A Critical Guide to 646 Movies . Jefferson (NC) and London 1999.

Web links

Commons : The Penalty  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

• The Penalty in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• The Penalty as a free download from archive.org

Individual evidence

1. ^ Robert K. Klepper: Silent Films, 1877-1996. A Critical Guide to 646 Movies . Jefferson (NC) and London 1999. page 189.
2. ↑ Rating by Rotten Tomatoes