West of Zanzibar (1928)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Tod Browning

Writers:

Elliott J. Clawson (writer)
Chester De Vonde (play)

Release Date:

24 November 1928 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery

Plot:

Magician Phroso's wife Anna leaves him for another man, named Crane, who fights with Phroso and leaves him paralyzed...

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Ivory | Brothel | Africa | Magician

Cast

Lon Chaney	...	Phroso 'Dead-Legs'
Lionel Barrymore	...	Mr. Crane
Mary Nolan	...	Maizie
Warner Baxter	...	Doc
Jacqueline Gadsden	...	Anna
Tiny Ward	...	Tiny (as Roscoe Ward)
Kalla Pasha	...	Babe
Curtis Nero	...	Bumbu

Runtime:

65 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (MovieTone) (musical score and sound effects) | Silent

Certification:

Argentina:Atp

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Although never shot, the film’s original ending has Maizie stabbing Phroso to death while he sleeps in his hut.

Quotes:

Phroso 'Dead-Legs': I've been waitin' for you.
Mr. Crane: Word comes to me that it's you who's been stealin' my ivory.
Phroso 'Dead-Legs': And I intend to pay you for everything.
Mr. Crane: Phroso... the magician!
Phroso 'Dead-Legs': Right you are... Mr. Crane!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "TCM Underground: West of Zanzibar/The Unholy Three (#1.10)" (2006)

Another great Browning-Chaney collaboration

One year after these two prominent figures of the silent era cinema worked together for The Unknown, here they team again for another tragic story of despair, loss and revenge. Clocking at little more than an hour, West of Zanzibar combines the best of both worlds: Browning's atmospheric direction that turns Africa (or the studio backlot that stood for it) in a dark limbo where cannibal tribes perform weird rituals to their gods and drums of doom sound in the night, and Lon Chaney, the man, the myth.

Saying that Lon Chaney is among the finest character actors of all time is an understatement. Mostly known for his macabre make-up that made him almost unrecognizable from one role to the other, Chaney was also a fantastic actor, able to emote and connect with the audience with a gesture or a look of his eyes. West of Zanzibar's story works on the same motif of tragic irony that made The Unknown so good and offers the perfect role for this great actor. Unsurprisingly he makes the most of it.

A great companion piece for The Unknown and a fine movie on its own right, West of Zanzibar is the result of two inspired artists at the top of their craft working together. Recommended.