Lon Chaney Warner Collection

[Brad Moore]

I just picked up this set, and was pleasantly surprised how great this collection really is. I had heard mixed reviews about it. Some say it was great, and some say its horrible. I can't find much to say bad about it. The print quality is superb on all the titles. My only complaints is some nitrate damage in the MGM logo in the beginning of the silent Unholy Three, which isn't in my 8mm print, and a heavy scratch at the beginning of He Who Gets Slapped, which isn't in my 8mm print either.

I am surprised that since this collection came from the Turner Vault, that it was released through Warner and not Turner like the Lon Chaney Collection a few years back. Like that collection, I wish this set had commentary by Michael Blake as well. Some have found faults with the soundtrack to Mr. Wu. I didn't find it to be all that bad, and actually like the clarinet, and other instruments that are being used. For those of you who have had thoughts on holding back on this set I highly recommend it, and being a big fan of Lon Chaney too.

[bigshot]

The music on Unholy Three makes it pretty much unwatchable to me. I think someone slapped that track together without ever having seen the movie.

Music matters in silents.

[Danny Burk]

I assume that these are the same tired scores that have accompanied these films since the early '70s TV screenings? The same basic scores were used for several Chaneys and also a few Garbos. They were pretty poor then and definitely haven't improved with age.

[Nosferatu]

I like this set. I know they made this set because there was someone selling an unauthorized set that he had put together. He got sued and as a mockery, Warner released the same set that he sold.

[Jay Schwartz]

I like this set. I know they made this set because there was someone selling an unauthorized set that he had put together. He got sued and as a mockery, Warner released the same set that he sold.

There are some pretty fascinating user reviews about this issue on Amazon.