| West of Zanzibar | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:West_of_Zanzibar.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Tod Browning Harry Sharrock (A.D.) |
| Written by | Elliott J. Clawson (screenplay) Joseph Farnham (intertitles) |
| Based on | Kongo 1926 play by Charles de Vonde and Kilbourn Gordon |
| Produced by | Irving G. Thalberg |
| Starring | Lon Chaney Lionel Barrymore Mary Nolan Warner Baxter Kalla Pasha |
| Cinematography | Percy Hilburn |
| Edited by | Harry Reynolds |
| Music by | William Axt |
| Distributed by | MGM Jury-Metro-Goldwyn (England) |
Release date |
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Running time | 65 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Languages | Sound film (Synchronized) (English Intertitles) |
West of Zanzibar is a 1928 American synchronized sound film directed by Tod Browning. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using both the sound-on-disc and sound-on-film process. The screenplay concerns a vengeful stage magician named Phroso (Lon Chaney) who becomes paralyzed in a brawl with a rival (Lionel Barrymore). The supporting cast includes Mary Nolan and Warner Baxter. The screenplay was written by Elliott J. Clawson, based on the 1926 play Kongo by Charles de Vonde and Kilbourn Gordon.[1] Walter Huston starred in the stage play and later played Phroso again in the 1932 sound film remake of the same story which was also called Kongo.
The Hays office, the official Hollywood censor, banned the stage play "Kongo" from the screen, so to bypass the ruling, MGM changed the title first to SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR, then finally to WEST OF ZANZIBAR. Owen Moore was originally set to play Doc, but the role went to Warner Baxter instead. Mary Nolan was hired to play Maizie because she had "such sad eyes". Cedric Gibbons and Richard Day designed the sets, and David Cox handled the costumes.[2]
West of Zanzibar is intriguing to Lon Chaney fans because of the lost or excised sequences that Browning allegedly shot for the film that no longer exist; in particular, Phroso (Chaney) in costume as The Human Duck in a freak show act and scenes showing Phroso and his troupe when they first arrive in Africa. Stills of Chaney in the duck costume exist, but it is unclear whether the scene was actually shot, or merely planned and publicity stills were taken.
The film was in production from June 25, 1928 to July 31, 1928, and cost $249,000 to produce. Its worldwide box office gross was $921,000. The film was released both silent and with sound effects and a synchronized music score.
Film historian Jon C. Mirsalis wrote that Waldemar Young was involved in writing the screenplay (but no other sources mention him) and that the film was released on December 28, 1928 instead of November 24th. Stills exist showing Chaney as the crippled Phroso.[3][4][5]
The film is today readily available on DVD. MGM Home Video released it with the synchronized music score on laser disc in 1993. The film also turns up frequently on the Turner Classics Movies cable TV channel and on PBS stations. Print exists in the George Eastman Museum film archive [35mm positive].[4][5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
SFSFFwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "West of Zanzibar (1928)". lonchaney.org.
- ^ "West of Zanzibar (1928)". lonchaney.org.
- ^ a b "Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List". silentera.com.
- ^ a b "West of Zanzibar photos". lonchaney.org.