Mockery

I'm a fan but have never seen this Lon Chaney film before. The intensity he brings to his slow-minded character is magnificent.

The title cards keep you on pace with the imagery very well. I didn't especially dislike the ones 'upstairs' but did feel empathy for the peasants 'downstairs.'

Nicely paced and always interesting throughout the story. It was a pleasure to see.

It's easy to spot Károly Huszár (Ivan the Gatekeeper), a familiar face in some great films like. The Blue Angel and The Man Who Laughs. Information about when and where he died at the age of 58 is sketchy, would be nice to know his complete story. IMDB: "His death place and date is still unconfirmed. He and his wife left Hungary in 1941 because of the Holocaust and tried to get into the United States. Some sources say that he died in Tokyo, Japan in 1942. Others that his train was stopped by the Soviet army and he was imprisoned in a Gulag labor camp in Karaganda, Kazahstan where he performed in the camp theatre company. He died there from diphtheria in June, 1943."

Spend a little time with this film, I find it rewarding.

This little known title still manages to draw audiences thanks to Lon Chaney, although it is a bit hard to find. However, when found, it is a crowd pleaser thanks to a decent story, great acting, and nice production elements.

Chaney stars as Sergei, an unintelligent peasant who happens upon a woman (Barbara Bedford) while lurking in the forest in search of food. She requests that he accompany her to the city and to comply with whatever she says. His agreement of these terms becomes useful when revolutionists try to attack her. Sergei's actions in the situation make it possible for the two of them to reach the city, where he discovers that the woman is Countess Tatiana. In gratitude, she offers Sergei a job in the kitchen where she is staying under the direction of burly Ivan (Charles Puffy). He agrees and grows more and more fond of Tatiana and jealous of her relationship with soldier Dimitri (Ricardo Cortez) until he is driven to action by revolutionist Ivan.

As always, Chaney gives a stirring performance through a transforming makeup job. His character is rude and dirty, but we somehow sympathize with him even though we are brought to like both sides of the spectrum. Sometimes Lon is supposed to be sweet but sometimes he is supposed to be evil, but his character is realistic enough to be forgiven. Bedford is stunning as his love interest, first appearing dressed down in a Madonna-like fashion and then cleaning up to look Garbo-esquire.

The mechanics of the film are great too. It opens with an extreme close-up on Chaney's hungry hands searching through a dead soldier's effects. It follows him as he roams around. Lighting is used to highlight the scenes, especially toward the end of the film when lights flicker on and off constantly. These provide an added touch to make the film even better than it already would have been.

During the Russian Revolution, "slow-thinking and ignorant" peasant Lon Chaney (as Sergei) promises to help beautiful waylaid countess Barbara Bedford (as Tatiana Alexandrova) travel to safety in the militarily protected city of Novokursk. In return, Ms. Bedford offers Mr. Chaney food and friendship. Before the couple are rescued, Bolsheviks whip Chaney and attempt to rape Bedford. When they are safe, Bedford gives Chaney a menial job; and, she falls in love with handsome Russian rescuer Ricardo Cortez (as Dimitri).

Oafish Chaney begins to realize Bedford never offered true friendship, as she is a member of the aristocratic class. Another of Chaney's peasant class, rotund Charles Puffy (as Ivan), encourages Chaney to attack his former companion, and her ilk. When the Revolution is won, Chaney believes, "I will be good enough for the Countess," and he hopes to "kiss her" like Captain Cortez kisses her. Fueled with liquor, Chaney decides to rape Bedford. Will his secret love for Bedford be his salvation, or damnation?

Nicely directed, in the last act, by Benjamin Christensen. An interesting earlier scene, wherein Chaney lovingly bathes Bedford's feet, can be seen as the point where Bedford is set up as Sergei's potential "Madonna"-type savior. Mr. Puffy makes a relatively good impression, neatly balancing comic with menacing. Handsome 1940s western star Johnny Mack Brown can be seen as a Russian officer; he quickly became an MGM co-star for no less than Greta Garbo, Joan Crawford and Norma Shearer.

***** Mockery (8/13/27) Benjamin Christensen ~ Lon Chaney, Barbara Bedford, Ricardo Cortez, Charles Puffy

In this silent Lon Chaney film, he once again plays a non-traditional role. This time he is a dull-witted peasant, Sergei, during a revolution. He survives by taking food off dead bodies on the battlefield. While at this, he is discovered by a beautiful woman, who enlists his aid in trying to escape. He is primarily responsible for getting her out of a potentially deadly situation. What he doesn't realize is that she is a countess, living the high life, ruling the servants. She never intended any sort of relationship, obviously. He doesn't see it this way. So it is hopeless. He then gets enlisted by a cook, who works in the mansion. He uses Sergei to manipulate his situation, wanting to get his hands on the countess. Sergei just doesn't get it. Chaney is fantastic. His amazing facial expressions and his interpretation of the role are superb.

It's the chaos of the Russian revolution. Countess Tatiana Alexandrova (Barbara Bedford) is alone and on foot, desperate to get to Novokursk. She encounters peasant Sergei (Lon Chaney) who is picking over the corpses of dead soldiers. She hires him as her guide and promises to be his friend upon arrival. They pretend to be a married couple when they run into revolutionaries.

This is a fascinating exposition of the Russian revolution. Neither side is right. In a way, I am a little disappointed with some of Alexandrova's actions, but it is very much indicative of the society in general. At last, there is no satisfying ending and there isn't one in the real world. I probably would have ended the movie before the final fight.