Outside the Law

This is an awesome film, Lon Chaney is so creepy looking as the gangster 'Black Mike'. When Lon Chaney is on the screen you can't get your eyes off of him, his facial expressions and body gestures speak a thousand words. Not only was he brilliant as the gangster he also plays another role as a chinese servant, (a somewhat similar role he would reprise 2 years later in the film Shadows) the transformation is astonishing! Thats why he is called a man of a thousand faces!

The story is about Black Mike's attempt to frame an affluent citizen in a crime, and then have him turn against the law because of his time spent in jail as an innocent. Most of the story focuses on the man's daughter who turns to a life of crime by stealing some expensive jewelry. There is tons of swindling and double crossing in this film.

This Film Directed by 'Freaks' Director Todd Browning is a tense thriller that can still keep you riveted to your seat. It is most saddening that many of Lon Chaney's films are lost, the quality is pretty bad on this one with last reel being totally washed out. Something must be done to restore all of these films or we will loose an integral part of film history, and one of best actors ever!

Silky Moll (Priscilla Dean) is a renowned thief and the daughter of gang boss Silent Madden (Ralph Lewis). They're friends with Chinatown businessman and personal counselor Chang Lo (E. Alyn Warren), who has convinced them both to go legit and leave their life of crime. Rival gangster Black Mike Sylva (Lon Chaney) needs Silky Moll's skills for a jewel heist, so he concocts a frame-up on her dad that drives the angry young woman back into the life. However, fellow criminal Dapper Bill Ballard (Wheeler Oakman) gives Silky the lowdown, and the two of them steal the jewels for themselves. They go into hiding until things cool down, during which time they both reflect on the life they've lived and what their future holds. Chaney also plays Ah Wing, the Chinese servant of Chang Lo. Also featuring Anna May Wong.

There's a lot to applaud here, and also some to lament. On the positive side, both Dean and Oakman are terrific. They were a real couple at the time, and they have genuine chemistry. Dean, in particular, gives one of the most nuanced, multi-layered performances by an actress that I have seen from this period in film. One thing that helps is Browning's use of close-ups, allowing the performers to emote more naturally. Chaney is of course terrific, but this brings up the issues I have with the movie.

The only version that survives is a re-release from several years after the original premiere, and a good chunk of footage had been edited out, namely the majority of the sub-plot featuring the Chinese characters Chang Lo and Ah Wing, and it's a real shame, too, since, although still being played by Caucasian actors in "yellow-face", the Chinese are treated with respect, and Confucian philosophy and its strength are keys to the plot. What remains of the film is very enjoyable, though, and the climax is a surprisingly violent, fast-edited powerhouse. Recommended.

Recently released Blu-Ray Kino Lorber "Outside the Law" (1920) starring Priscilla Dean, Wheeler Oakman, Lon Chaney, Sr. (in two rôles), E. Alyn Warren, Ralph Lewis, John George, Stanley Goethels, and others (including an uncredited Anna May Wong and two of her sisters), is standard fodder for early twentieth century stories about criminal activity in Chinatown, San Francisco, but this is played out in an exceptionally exciting manner. The fight at the end is one of the best fight scenes I've ever seen in any film. The 1926 re-release totally gets rid of this scene! This "restored" version of the 35mm original print is superb, though it possibly has a couple of minor little scenes missing or partly missing. Not sure about that, but it seemed so while I watched. I've watched this film three times before, first on VHS (twice), then once on DVD. Never has it looked as good to me as this version, which is very sharp and so clear until near the end where there is some serious nitrate deterioration. Of course the deterioration is disturbing, but none of the plot seems to be excised as a result, and we can follow it just fine. One thing which struck me very clearly this time was how much Priscilla Dean in this film reminded me of early Barbara Stanwyck. She even looked like her in some scenes. She really did a super job of portraying her part here. Wheeler Oakman was very good himself, as were all the others, but...Lon Chaney not only stole every scene he was in, he simply proved why many consider him the finest actor of all time on film. He's superb to the hilt. As "Black Mike", the evil gangster of the area, he's just as mean as mean can be. His face could be a monster of hatred when he so chose to make it one. But he also plays a foil in the guise of a Chinois servant named Ah Wing. Beautifully acted! This is highly recommended for any Chaney fan. Recommended otherwise, too; though, I will admit I found it disturbing three or four times when the intertitles wiggled and blurred, then wiggled back into place. Shouldn't have happened. Still, the picture itself never did, and it was exceptional in Blu-Ray.

Not a stab at the movie's quality but (as with many Lon Chaney vehicles) it's worth a watch mostly for his typically electrifying performance. He plays another tough as nails gangster bad guy called Black Mike (and has a secondary role as Ah Wing, Chinese sage Chang Low's assistant) but instead of merely fulfilling his genre role as antagonist and villain, he brings a level of malevolence that elevelates his character to a whole other kind of grotesque not far from horror territory.

As is true for other films that Chaney received second billing, he's mostly in the opening and closing 15 minutes which are packed with explosive action. The middle deals with the mandatory romance between protagonist Molly Maddoc (played by the sashy Priscilla Dean who steals scenes) and Black Mike's right hand man Bill who double crosses his boss out of remorse and love for miss Maddoc. They spend the middle act holed up in an apartment after a successful jewel robbery, hiding from cops and Black Mike alike.

All in all Outside the Law is not a masterpiece of any kind but fans of silent films and especially Lon Chaney will find enough to appreciate.

Todd Browning is definitely a big name in the early days of Hollywood, and this crime drama (I am somewhat hesitant to label it as film noir, seeing as that genre had not really been coined yet) is definitely one of the standouts in his career, and of course in the early days of Hollywood. And given how many silent films I have given a watch throughout the years, it is by no means a faint statement.

The cinematography, ever important in this style of filmmaking, is great, and so is the acting, providing a visual and facial sense that was always important, an art lost in time somewhat if you will.

The script is of course incredible, and it is truly one of Browning's best films.

Very much recommended for any lover of film!