“Fake blood, wax teeth and bat wings…”
Discovering the art and awesomeness of silent film is a reward unto itself; many people avoid black and white, so finding people willing to sit through silent black and white movies is an exponentially more difficult task. Thank god for our older audience, and our hipsters. London After Midnight is more than just a great band; it’s also a terrific silent film, and probably one of Lon Chaney’s most striking performances as a villain.
The remake, or so it’s called by the author of the source piece, is Bela Lugosi’s Mark of the Vampire; this film actually has spoken lines, and while acknowledged to be beautifully shot, Bela Lugosi’s performance isn’t exactly up to snuff with Lon Chaney’s in the original silent film. Boredom permeates the film, despite its excellent photography, and atmosphere. But, ultimately, this is a battle for the fans: who do you think was the better vampire? Bela Lugosi or Lon Chaney?