man of a thousand faces

A bio-melodrama with an emphasis on family squabbles over professional accomplishments, Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) is a first-and-foremost a showcase for James Cagney who uses his entire bag of tricks portraying make-up artist and silent actor extraordinaire Lon Chaney. Co-starring Dorothy Malone as the disinterested mother of Chaney's only child, the film takes quite a while to get around to the highlights of his legendary career, with a few reenacted snippets of Miracle Man and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. But Cagney is so compelling throughout that the personal struggles splashed onscreen - although often inaccurate - make for one heck of a life story. Arrow's brand-new restoration on Blu-ray is nothing short of jaw-dropping and extras include a spot-on commentary track from Tim Lucas, video appreciation by Kim Newman, image gallery and fully illustrated booklet.