Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) Plot Summary Explained

Cleva attempted suicide after discovering Lon was having an affair with Hazel, a chorus girl who sometimes looked after their son Creighton. The revelation of her husband's infidelity, combined with the stress of their marriage and fears about their unborn child's hearing, drove her to desperation, leading to a scandal that derailed Lon's vaudeville career.

• cleva
• suicide
• affair
• hazel
• marriage crisis

Lon earned this moniker in Hollywood through his extraordinary talent for transformation. Using expert makeup techniques, he could completely alter his appearance to embody vastly different characters, which set him apart from other actors and made him invaluable in the silent film era.

• man of a thousand faces
• makeup
• transformation
• hollywood fame

Lon lied to Creighton about Cleva's death to protect his son from the painful truth about his mother's suicide attempt and the scandal that followed. However, this deception eventually caused a rift when Cleva returned years later seeking to reconnect with Creighton.

• cleva
• creighton
• deception
• lie
• family secrets

When Cleva returned during the filming of "Hunchback of Notre Dame," Creighton chose to reconnect with her despite years of believing she was dead. This decision created a profound rift between Creighton and Lon, as the revelation of his father's deception shattered the truth Creighton had grown up with.

• creighton
• cleva
• reunion
• family rift
• choice

After Cleva's suicide attempt created a scandal that destroyed his vaudeville career, and with his son Creighton taken by the state, Lon followed his press agent Clarence Locan's advice to start fresh in Hollywood as a film extra.

• vaudeville
• hollywood
• career change
• scandal
• clarence locan

Lon was bullied because his parents were deaf and relied on sign language for communication. Other children mocked his family for being different, making his childhood isolated and difficult.

• bullying
• childhood
• colorado springs
• deaf parents
• sign language

Lon initially thought he had tonsillitis, but on the set of "The Unholy Three," he was diagnosed with bronchial cancer. This terminal illness eventually led to his death, though he reconciled with Creighton before passing away.

• bronchial cancer
• illness
• death
• the unholy three
• diagnosis

In his final moments, Lon requested his makeup box and wrote "Jr." beside his name, passing his legacy to Creighton. This act symbolized his wish for his son to carry on his theatrical footsteps and inherit the identity he had built in Hollywood.

• lon chaney jr
• legacy
• makeup box
• inheritance
• father son

After Cleva's suicide attempt, she left the family due to the overwhelming scandal and shame surrounding the incident. Her departure led to Creighton being taken in by the state, creating a devastating separation that Lon struggled with for years.

• cleva
• departure
• scandal
• creighton
• state custody

As tensions grew in Lon's marriage to Cleva, he began an affair with Hazel, a chorus girl who occasionally looked after their son Creighton. This infidelity ultimately led to Cleva's desperate act and the collapse of their family.

Foreshadowing: Earlier tension in the marriage is hinted at when Cleva worries about her unborn child's hearing and struggles to accept Lon's deaf parents.

• affair
• hazel
• chorus girl
• marriage breakdown
• infidelity

After moving to Hollywood and marrying Hazel, Lon's fortunes improved. With Hazel's support and his growing success as a film actor, Lon was able to regain custody of Creighton, bringing his son back into his life.

• custody
• creighton
• hazel
• hollywood success
• reunion

Cleva was deeply concerned about her unborn child inheriting the same deafness as Lon's parents. When she discovered her in-laws were unable to hear or speak, she feared their child might share the same fate, adding to her anxiety about starting a family.

• deafness
• pregnancy
• cleva
• fears
• hereditary

Lon never told Cleva about his parents' deafness before introducing her to them. This revelation shocked Cleva, who was taken aback to discover her in-laws were unable to hear or speak, deepening her concerns about their future together.

• parents
• deafness
• secret
• marriage
• cleva discovery