Definitely one for Henry B. Walthall fans, I notice this one has a range of reviews from the very top entertainment score to the very bottom. I'd place it a bit more than halfway. True, Alpha's black- and-white print is somewhat dupey, but at least it is complete and there are some good action scenes including a knockout-knockdown climax between villainous Chaney and heroic Walthall. Chaney fans, however, may well be disappointed that although Lon plays a really despicable villain, he does so with little charisma. Also, Irvin Willat in his capacity as both scriptwriter and director focuses his attention almost entirely on Walthall. Although Chaney's part is reasonably large, he is obviously secondary in the writer/director's mind. Also, to his admirers' dismay, for his role here as a really nasty German, Chaney is using very little make-up. Chaney's oft- repeated publicity claim that the only movie in which he appeared without special make-up was Tell It To the Marines (1926) is just that: Publicity! Aside from False Faces, I could cite at least three or four other movies, in which he appears without special make-up. Nevertheless, it's good to have this movie available at a very affordable price from Alpha.
Review of The False Faces
