The Penalty

The Penalty, 1920 [2001 Kino edition, Michael Polher score]. A double amputee gangster mastermind has a sinister hat factory.

Directed by Wallace Worsley. Written by Charles Kenyon; adapted by Gouverneur Morris from his book. Starring Lon Chaney, with Charles Clary, Jim Mason, Ethel Grey Terry, Kenneth Harlan, & Claire Adams.

Concept: B
Story: D
Characters: C
Dialog: C
Pacing: D
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: B
Acting: B
Music: C
Enjoyment: It starts out really promising, with lots of action, a super-villain, a lady detective, and... a hat factory. It loses steam pretty soon, though. The plot doesn't end up going anywhere, and the movie goes on for about half an hour longer than it should. C

GPA: 2.1/4