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Michael F Blake / The Films of Lon Chaney Signed 1st Edition 1998 [Hardcover] Blake, Michael F
This rare and vintage book is a perfect addition to any bibliophile's collection
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Hardcover
First published April 25, 1998
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About the author
Michael F. Blake
9 books11 followersMichael F. Blake, a two-time Emmy-winning makeup artist, has worked in the film industry for sixty years.
His father, Larry J. Blake, was a well-known character actor who appeared in numerous films and TV shows including High Noon, Sunset Boulevard, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Man of a Thousand Faces, Time After Time, Gunsmoke, Here’s Lucy, Have Gun-Will Travel, Adam-12, Kojak, and Kung Fu.
At the age of two, Michael began working as a child actor, appearing in commercials and numerous TV shows including Adam-12, The Lucy Show, The Munsters, Kung Fu, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Red Skelton Show and Bonanza.
In 1978, at the age of 21, a chance meeting with the head of the makeup department at Universal Studios led Michael to switching careers, becoming one of the youngest makeup artists working in the industry at the time. His credits include Westworld, X-Men: First Class, Spider-Man 3, Drag Me To Hell, Domino, Independence Day, Tough Guys, Strange Days, Soapdish, Magnum, P.I., and Happy Days.
He has won two Best Makeup Emmy Awards as part of the makeup team for Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (1999) and Key & Peele (2016).
Widely recognized as the leading biographer of silent film star Lon Chaney, his three books — Lon Chaney: Man Behind the Thousand Faces, A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney’s Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures and The Films of Lon Chaney — are considered the definitive volumes on the actor’s life and career.
He served as special consultant and on-camera interviewee for the Turner Classic Movies channel documentary, Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000), and has provided DVD audio commentaries for several Lon Chaney films. Michael has also been a guest speaker at Chaney retrospectives held in New York, Los Angeles, and Italy.
His books Code of Honor: The Making of High Noon, Shane, and The Searchers and Hollywood and the O.K. Corral, are recognized as informative works relating to the Western genre. Michael is featured in the “TCM Fanatics: Westerns” featurette that airs on Turner Classic Movies cable channel, and has appeared in special featurettes for the John Ford DVD box set from Warner Home Video, and for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and El Dorado for Paramount Home Video.
In 2017, Michael received the Stirrup Award from Western Writers of America for his article on the making of John Ford’s The Searchers. He has also written for True West, Round-Up, American Cinematographer, Performing Arts, the Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Northridge and a Masters Degree in Critical Film Studies from UCLA.
Recently retired, after a 60 year career in the film and television industry, Michael lives in Arizona with his wife, Linda, and their dogs, Charli and Dobie, while his two adopted mustangs, Theodore and Dillon, run free at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary.
His father, Larry J. Blake, was a well-known character actor who appeared in numerous films and TV shows including High Noon, Sunset Boulevard, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Man of a Thousand Faces, Time After Time, Gunsmoke, Here’s Lucy, Have Gun-Will Travel, Adam-12, Kojak, and Kung Fu.
At the age of two, Michael began working as a child actor, appearing in commercials and numerous TV shows including Adam-12, The Lucy Show, The Munsters, Kung Fu, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Red Skelton Show and Bonanza.
In 1978, at the age of 21, a chance meeting with the head of the makeup department at Universal Studios led Michael to switching careers, becoming one of the youngest makeup artists working in the industry at the time. His credits include Westworld, X-Men: First Class, Spider-Man 3, Drag Me To Hell, Domino, Independence Day, Tough Guys, Strange Days, Soapdish, Magnum, P.I., and Happy Days.
He has won two Best Makeup Emmy Awards as part of the makeup team for Buffy, the Vampire Slayer (1999) and Key & Peele (2016).
Widely recognized as the leading biographer of silent film star Lon Chaney, his three books — Lon Chaney: Man Behind the Thousand Faces, A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney’s Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures and The Films of Lon Chaney — are considered the definitive volumes on the actor’s life and career.
He served as special consultant and on-camera interviewee for the Turner Classic Movies channel documentary, Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000), and has provided DVD audio commentaries for several Lon Chaney films. Michael has also been a guest speaker at Chaney retrospectives held in New York, Los Angeles, and Italy.
His books Code of Honor: The Making of High Noon, Shane, and The Searchers and Hollywood and the O.K. Corral, are recognized as informative works relating to the Western genre. Michael is featured in the “TCM Fanatics: Westerns” featurette that airs on Turner Classic Movies cable channel, and has appeared in special featurettes for the John Ford DVD box set from Warner Home Video, and for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and El Dorado for Paramount Home Video.
In 2017, Michael received the Stirrup Award from Western Writers of America for his article on the making of John Ford’s The Searchers. He has also written for True West, Round-Up, American Cinematographer, Performing Arts, the Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Northridge and a Masters Degree in Critical Film Studies from UCLA.
Recently retired, after a 60 year career in the film and television industry, Michael lives in Arizona with his wife, Linda, and their dogs, Charli and Dobie, while his two adopted mustangs, Theodore and Dillon, run free at the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 30, 2025
The last of three books about Lon Chaney written by Michael F. Blake. Covers all of the know films that Lon Chaney was in from 1913 to 1930. Each film includes details about the film itself (Studio, Production dates, Director, Producer, Production costs, Profit margin, etc.), Cast, a Synopsis of the film, Critical Reviews, Notes. Loads of pictures.
There is also a list of film projects never completed, some miscellaneous film appearances, and a brief item on the biographical film ‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ which was released in 1957.
A well written book about Lon Chaney’s films but I would be more interested in the first two books the author wrote about Lon Chaney but have not located copies of them yet.
There is also a list of film projects never completed, some miscellaneous film appearances, and a brief item on the biographical film ‘Man of a Thousand Faces’ which was released in 1957.
A well written book about Lon Chaney’s films but I would be more interested in the first two books the author wrote about Lon Chaney but have not located copies of them yet.
July 5, 2015
Ah...Michael Blake--perhaps the only person who loves Lon Chaney as much as I do. I was so lucky to find this book at my favorite film con earlier this year--this book is pricey on the open market--I knew it would take me winning the lottery or lucking into it to get a copy. Shopping at one of my favorite dealer's tables this year (a lovely lady from the same hometown as Miss Ava Gardner no less) I found this book for 15 bucks--you are lucky to get a copy for 50 online. It is worth what anyone asks for it. It's an invaluable resource for the Lon Chaney fan.
I have never read such a detailed work on an actor's films--particularly since so many are lost and the ones that are not are so very old. Every film is described in detail, as much information as Mr. Blake could possibly find, including the length of the reels when possible, scenario writers, directors and stars. He included reviews, mostly from trade papers that were used to decide which films to book and personal notes on anything he could find (one great anecdote from Phantom of the Opera describes an extra who accidentally mussed Lon's incredible make up when filming a scene and instead of being angry or even frustrated, Lon took the extra with him into his dressing room while he reapplied so the extra did not feel bad). Blake even covers home movies which are sampled in some of the more recent documentaries made about Lon.
To make the book even more delectable, it is filled with rare and amazing photo sections. The book is simply flawless. I am so grateful on a personal level for Mr. Blake's work--along with Lon's great grandson Ron, I consider him to be the personal steward of Lon Chaney's legacy. Like Mr. Blake, I fell in love with Lon the moment I laid eyes on one of his films (the most famous, Phantom and Hunchback are not even close to his best works in my opinion---but they are great examples of his make-up prowess)--and found it very hard to find material on Lon for many years. The very first book I found on Lon was by Michael Blake. I am extremely grateful for that. For me, there will never be a greater actor--no one could convey so much emotion--both with make up and without--in their eyes, and in their body language. To make it even easier to love him, he was a good, unpretentious man despite his great talent. Everything that I have learned about Lon through the years, aside from watching his films came from Mr. Blake. While reading about Lon always makes me a bit melancholy (to imagine what he would have done in talkies with only one to study--it's breathtaking) it also makes me feel a bit closer to a man who never fails to move me and make me smile and cry and just FEEL. A perfect book for a perfect actor.
I have never read such a detailed work on an actor's films--particularly since so many are lost and the ones that are not are so very old. Every film is described in detail, as much information as Mr. Blake could possibly find, including the length of the reels when possible, scenario writers, directors and stars. He included reviews, mostly from trade papers that were used to decide which films to book and personal notes on anything he could find (one great anecdote from Phantom of the Opera describes an extra who accidentally mussed Lon's incredible make up when filming a scene and instead of being angry or even frustrated, Lon took the extra with him into his dressing room while he reapplied so the extra did not feel bad). Blake even covers home movies which are sampled in some of the more recent documentaries made about Lon.
To make the book even more delectable, it is filled with rare and amazing photo sections. The book is simply flawless. I am so grateful on a personal level for Mr. Blake's work--along with Lon's great grandson Ron, I consider him to be the personal steward of Lon Chaney's legacy. Like Mr. Blake, I fell in love with Lon the moment I laid eyes on one of his films (the most famous, Phantom and Hunchback are not even close to his best works in my opinion---but they are great examples of his make-up prowess)--and found it very hard to find material on Lon for many years. The very first book I found on Lon was by Michael Blake. I am extremely grateful for that. For me, there will never be a greater actor--no one could convey so much emotion--both with make up and without--in their eyes, and in their body language. To make it even easier to love him, he was a good, unpretentious man despite his great talent. Everything that I have learned about Lon through the years, aside from watching his films came from Mr. Blake. While reading about Lon always makes me a bit melancholy (to imagine what he would have done in talkies with only one to study--it's breathtaking) it also makes me feel a bit closer to a man who never fails to move me and make me smile and cry and just FEEL. A perfect book for a perfect actor.
March 25, 2019
It's a good read overall, but there are parts in the book where it feels like listening to a broken record. Examples are such and such a book originally dated the release for the movie at such and such a date. Then the movie release codes and how many reels the film was made on. I'm sorry, but who gives a damn about those parts? I just skimmed over that read about the cast and crew and what the movies were about. I also found the reviews about the films from critics very interesting and some of the facts Michael learned about Lon.
But if you want a really good read about Chaney, you're best reading Michael Blake's other 2 Chaney biographies rather than this one.
But if you want a really good read about Chaney, you're best reading Michael Blake's other 2 Chaney biographies rather than this one.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews