London After Midnight (1927)

Director:

Tod Browning

Writers:

Tod Browning (story)
Waldemar Young (scenario)

Release Date:

17 December 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror

Tagline:

LON CHANEY in a great Scotland Yard Mystery

Plot:

The abandoned home of a wealthy man who supposedly committed suicide five years earlier is taken over by ghoulish figures - could they be vampires?

Plot Keywords:

Time For Title | Ghoul | Night | Lost Film | Vampire

Cast

Lon Chaney	...	Professor Edward C. Burke
Marceline Day	...	Lucille Balfour
Henry B. Walthall	...	Sir.James Hamlin
Percy Williams	...	Williams, Balfour's Butler
Conrad Nagel	...	Arthur Hibbs
Polly Moran	...	Miss Smithson, the New Maid
Edna Tichenor	...	Luna, Bat Girl
Claude King	...	Roger Balfour
Andy MacLennan	...	Bat Girl's Assistant

Also Known As:

The Hypnotist (UK)

Runtime:

69 min (22 fps)

Country:

USA

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

USA:Unrated

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Is on AFI's "Lost Films" list.

Quotes:

Miss Smithson, the New Maid: I - locked her in there -
Miss Smithson, the New Maid: Oh, sir... it was 'orrible! Miss Lucille was bidding me good-night, - --
Miss Smithson, the New Maid: - and then, sir I screamed, and frightened 'im! And out of the window 'e flew!
Professor Edward C. Burke: Smithson, have you been drinking?
Miss Smithson, the New Maid: Oh, no, sir! If I 'ave... I 'opes I chokes on the next one!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Monster by Moonlight! The Immortal Saga of 'The Wolf Man' (1999) (V)

London After Midnight: Lon Chaney will live on!

London After Midnight...the very mention of this lost film brings to mind all of the other outstanding performances of the greatest ACTOR that ever lived, Lon Chaney. It has been suggested by some that Lon was only an O.K. actor, and that he let his makeups do most of his acting for him. Nothing could be further from the truth. The talent of this man is immeasurable. Yes, his makeups helped to bring his characters to life, but it didn't define them. His ACTING inspired pity in Quasimodo, the Phantom, and others.

I hope someday London After Midnight does show up so Lon's detractors can eat their words. If you are unable to look beyond the greasepaint, putty, false teeth, and wigs, and see a truly remarkable characterization, the fault is yours, not his. Having seen every one of his films that survive, (nearly twenty) I can tell you that some of his most unforgettable roles used little or no makeup at all! Try watching Tell It To The Marines or The Penalty and see what you think...

Lon Chaney shall NEVER die! He will live in the hearts of his fans forever.