Man of a Thousand Faces 1957

The film begins in 1930 at Universal Studios, where a sense of sorrow looms as the flag is at half-mast in honor of the beloved star, Lon Chaney. Growing up in Colorado Springs, Lon faces constant bullying due to his parents’ deafness and their reliance on sign language for communication. As time passes, Lon, now a vaudeville performer, introduces his pregnant wife, Cleva, to his family, who is taken aback to discover that her in-laws are unable to hear or speak. This revelation deepens her concern that their unborn child might inherit the same fate.

Fortunately, their son Creighton is born with the gift of hearing, allowing Lon to indulge in fatherhood for a while. However, as the years go by, cracks begin to form in Lon’s marriage to Cleva, especially when he embarks on an affair with Hazel, a chorus girl who occasionally looks after Creighton. When Cleva uncovers this betrayal, she attempts to take her own life, resulting in a scandal that derails Lon’s vaudeville career. Cleva leaves, and Creighton is taken in by the state.

Heeding the advice of his press agent, Clarence Locan, Lon makes his way to Hollywood, where he starts as a film extra. Through perseverance and his talent for embodying diverse characters, enhanced by expert make-up, he soon earns the moniker “The Man of a Thousand Faces.” Lon’s life takes a positive turn when he marries Hazel and wins back custody of Creighton.

As Lon’s stardom grows, drama unfolds on the set of “Hunchback of Notre Dame” when Cleva returns, seeking reunion with her son. Lon, having misled Creighton to believe his mother is deceased, faces the fallout of his deception when Creighton chooses to reconnect with her. This tumultuous journey culminates on the set of “The Unholy Three,” where Lon, initially believing he is suffering from tonsillitis, discovers he is actually battling bronchial cancer.

Before his passing, Lon reconciles with Creighton, sharing poignant moments until his last breath. In a heartwarming gesture, he requests his makeup box and writes “Jr.” beside his name, bestowing upon Creighton the legacy of “Lon Chaney Jr.” as he embarks on a path forged in his father’s footsteps.