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Rating: 
Summary: Two great films with a great actor!
Review: These two excellent films from the early 1920s feature Lon Chaney without any disguises or make-up, but still as impressive as in his more famous roles such as the Phantom of the Opera. In both of these films his acting is very expressive, and in "The Shock" he is extremely convincing as a cripple in a wheelchair and the crook who turns good. "Nomads of the North" has many lovely scenes of the Canadian wilderness and for animal lovers there are several nice scenes of a cute bear cub playing with a puppy who are Chaney's two companions in the wilderness. In the midst of this nice scenery, a rather complicated situation develops when he is wanted for the accidental death of a man, and his beloved Nanette helps him escape to a life on the run together. It has a few moments of suspense as he is almost caught and you keep hoping he won't be, and although the ending might be predictable to some, it's still very rewarding viewing. The second film, "The Shock" is my favourite, mainly due to more suspense and twists and turns, as well as Chaney's excellent portrayal of a cripple working for an underworld "queen" in Chinatown whom he later disobeys. His life is changed by Gertrude, the woman he falls in love with, and he determines to change the outcome of the underworld queen's plans. There is a surprising dramatic climax at the end, and although it's only a short film of just over an hour, it feels like you've watched quite a dramatic epic. Both films are digitally mastered and the picture quality is very good throughout, and the music is by Robert Israel. I found it especially good in "Nomads of the North", to which Israel plays a Fotoplayer - an instrument created to accompany silent films - and it includes various sounds for special effects. "The Shock" has the more standard, but also very good, orchestral musical score. I've really enjoyed both these films, both on their own and because of Lon Chaney, and recommend them to anyone who enjoys a quality silent film.
Rating:
Summary: Two great films with a great actor!
Review: These two excellent films from the early 1920s feature Lon Chaney without any disguises or make-up, but still as impressive as in his more famous roles such as the Phantom of the Opera. In both of these films his acting is very expressive, and in "The Shock" he is extremely convincing as a cripple in a wheelchair and the crook who turns good. "Nomads of the North" has many lovely scenes of the Canadian wilderness and for animal lovers there are several nice scenes of a cute bear cub playing with a puppy who are Chaney's two companions in the wilderness. In the midst of this nice scenery, a rather complicated situation develops when he is wanted for the accidental death of a man, and his beloved Nanette helps him escape to a life on the run together. It has a few moments of suspense as he is almost caught and you keep hoping he won't be, and although the ending might be predictable to some, it's still very rewarding viewing. The second film, "The Shock" is my favourite, mainly due to more suspense and twists and turns, as well as Chaney's excellent portrayal of a cripple working for an underworld "queen" in Chinatown whom he later disobeys. His life is changed by Gertrude, the woman he falls in love with, and he determines to change the outcome of the underworld queen's plans. There is a surprising dramatic climax at the end, and although it's only a short film of just over an hour, it feels like you've watched quite a dramatic epic. Both films are digitally mastered and the picture quality is very good throughout, and the music is by Robert Israel. I found it especially good in "Nomads of the North", to which Israel plays a Fotoplayer - an instrument created to accompany silent films - and it includes various sounds for special effects. "The Shock" has the more standard, but also very good, orchestral musical score. I've really enjoyed both these films, both on their own and because of Lon Chaney, and recommend them to anyone who enjoys a quality silent film.
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