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Lon Chaney: The Man Behind the Thousand Faces
If you care at all about silent pictures, about Chaney, about bravura acting and about film makeup, the book is invaluable and perhaps definitive. —San Diego Union Tribune
394 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 1995
6 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
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 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 10, 2010
I think this might be a case of my expectations not matching the book. Okay, it's a case of the title not matching the book. Apparently Chaney was a pretty private dude, so there's just not a lot of info about the man behind the thousand faces. Also, the author is clearly eager to defend Chaney against claims that he was a dick, so we only get interviews and reminiscences from his contemporaries that are complimentary. The paucity of this material in this book suggests that there's probably a lot more evidence that he was a tool.
This book has a lot of information about Chaney's makeup techniques and an exhaustive listing of his movies. It's clear that Blake is a talented researcher. He's not much of a storyteller, though, and so this book ultimately takes on the character of a list. Lots of insight into makeup techniques, but after reading this, I didn't feel like I had much more information about who Chaney was and what his life was like than before I read it.
I guess Chaney is one of those artists who we mostly have to learn about through his work, since this appears to be the most exhaustive biography out there, and it's pretty thin gruel.
This book has a lot of information about Chaney's makeup techniques and an exhaustive listing of his movies. It's clear that Blake is a talented researcher. He's not much of a storyteller, though, and so this book ultimately takes on the character of a list. Lots of insight into makeup techniques, but after reading this, I didn't feel like I had much more information about who Chaney was and what his life was like than before I read it.
I guess Chaney is one of those artists who we mostly have to learn about through his work, since this appears to be the most exhaustive biography out there, and it's pretty thin gruel.
June 14, 2020
Lon Chaney was without doubt one of the finest actors ever. Not only was he an exceptional make-up artist he was also a brilliant actor without the make-up. Classed nowadays as a horror actor, due to films such as The Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and London after Midnight, Lon Chaney was much more than a horror actor. He could play any role with ease and in his day was the highest paid actor around. Sadly he only got to make one 'talkie' movie before he died of throat and lung cancer. Michael F. Blake has authored a great book, which has tons of great pics. 10/10 for this book. 👍
February 2, 2013
When I ordered this from the library I thought it was Blake's biography of Chaney. This is a later book, built around material uncovered after the bio was published. At first I thought it would be a tedious read, but I found the business correspondence and production notes pretty enjoyable. (I was also watching all the Chaney films I could find, so it made a good companion piece.)
Possibly of interest only to film nerds, but an intriguing look behind the scenes of the making of some great and some not so great films.
Possibly of interest only to film nerds, but an intriguing look behind the scenes of the making of some great and some not so great films.
May 21, 2023
Antes que nada, quiero aclarar que mi reseña y calificación es sobre Lon Chaney: el arte de la actuación, de Diego Norton. Como no estaba en la aplicación, tuve que elegir otro sobre Lon Chaney para dejar mi comentario al respecto.
Ahora sí. Lon Chaney: el arte de la actuación se divide en dos partes. En la primera, Diego Norton va a hacer una biografía del actor, enfatizando en aquellos aspectos destacados de su vida que incluyeron en su formación y perfeccionamiento como actor y genio del maquillaje. En la segunda, va a relevar un montón de métodos de actuación partiendo de Lon Chaney, que pueden servir a actores y actrices de todo el mundo. Además, incluye un apartado especial sobre el maquillaje y fotografías del actor y sus personajes.
En lo personal, disfruté mucho más la primera parte. Conocía poco y nada de este genial actor y realmente después de la lectura te dan ganas de ver todas sus películas. Diego Norton nos cuenta la vida de Chaney no solo mediante la objetividad "histórica", sino también a partir de los testimonios y voces de personas que lo conocieron, lo cual se vuelve muy enriquecedor y plural.
Mi problema fue la segunda parte. Es evidente que al no ser actriz, no soy el lector modelo planeado por el autor. Por este motivo, si bien valoro sus explicaciones y la cantidad de ejercicios que propone para la interpretación, no logré sacar de eso nada en limpio.
A excepción de eso, es un gran libro. Pero tengan presente que si no se dedican a la actuación, la segunda parte se les puede hacer un poco pesada.
Dónde encontrarme:
https://linktr.ee/eternalectura
Ahora sí. Lon Chaney: el arte de la actuación se divide en dos partes. En la primera, Diego Norton va a hacer una biografía del actor, enfatizando en aquellos aspectos destacados de su vida que incluyeron en su formación y perfeccionamiento como actor y genio del maquillaje. En la segunda, va a relevar un montón de métodos de actuación partiendo de Lon Chaney, que pueden servir a actores y actrices de todo el mundo. Además, incluye un apartado especial sobre el maquillaje y fotografías del actor y sus personajes.
En lo personal, disfruté mucho más la primera parte. Conocía poco y nada de este genial actor y realmente después de la lectura te dan ganas de ver todas sus películas. Diego Norton nos cuenta la vida de Chaney no solo mediante la objetividad "histórica", sino también a partir de los testimonios y voces de personas que lo conocieron, lo cual se vuelve muy enriquecedor y plural.
Mi problema fue la segunda parte. Es evidente que al no ser actriz, no soy el lector modelo planeado por el autor. Por este motivo, si bien valoro sus explicaciones y la cantidad de ejercicios que propone para la interpretación, no logré sacar de eso nada en limpio.
A excepción de eso, es un gran libro. Pero tengan presente que si no se dedican a la actuación, la segunda parte se les puede hacer un poco pesada.
Dónde encontrarme:
https://linktr.ee/eternalectura
December 18, 2023
I didn't know too much about the man behind the thousand faces. In this biography you'll read about his beginnings, the man of musical comedies, love and heartbreak, his apprenticeship in the movies, The Bell Ringer of Notre Dame, him being a star in MGM heaven (Phantom of the Opera), the master of make-up, the fact that there is no Lon Chaney between pictures, a chronology and a film reference list. Besides you'll find many good black and white photos and illustrations. Really recommended!
January 20, 2018
I loved this book. It's been my "go to" for Chaney trivia. I have loved Lon Chaney, Sr. movies for a long time and reading this bio is informative. Michael F. Blake did his research and dispelled the myth of Chaney being Dracula had he not passed. He wasn't even considered for the role. It was told by someone else. If you want to know all about Lon Chaney, Sr. I suggest this bio.
August 30, 2025
The pictures alone may be worth the price of admission, and the book is extremely well done. As for LC, like Peter Sellers after him, what we know about the man is pretty much on the screen. Clearly a trailblazer and a gentleman. Also Don't Smoke!!!
October 19, 2017
Pretty good short bio on Chaney, given the apparent paucity of info available at the time it was written.
July 24, 2022
Great book a great about Lon Chaney.
December 28, 2022
I loved loved loved it! A well-written biography about the beloved silent film star. Every time I learned something, I would tell my grandma all about it. Eventually it got to the point where my grandma was very eager for me to take it back to the library. She figured my fascination with Lon Chaney was just a phase I'd get over. Well, I ended up getting a copy of this book for my very own, so.....
Well, anyway, I strongly recommend this book for any Lon Chaney fan!
Well, anyway, I strongly recommend this book for any Lon Chaney fan!
June 23, 2013
The Chaney fan cannot ask for a more well researched exploration of the life of the Man of a Thousand Faces than Michael Blake has provided here.
June 29, 2016
It is good but is really only for completists. It is essentially the same book as Blake's superior 'Man Behind the Thousand Faces'.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews