"Where East is East" is another collaboration between star Lon Chaney and director Tod Browning. This was Chaney's second to last silent film and his third last overall. The version released from the Warners Archive collection appears to be the re-issue with a musical score, sound effects and the roar of Leo the MGM lion at the start.
Chaney is animal trapper "Tiger" Haynes who traps wild animals in Indo-China (now Viet Nam), for sale to circuses. He is the over protective father of a young innocent daughter named Toyo (Lupe Velez). The son of one of Tiger's customers, Bobby Bailey (Lloyd Hughes) arrives to take delivery of wild animals for his father's circus. He soon becomes infatuated with Toyo and despite Tiger's initial objections, they become engaged.
When Tiger and Bailey board a ship headed to Saigon, the young man meets a seductress named Mme. de Sylva (Estelle Taylor) with whom he gets involved. Tiger is incensed because the woman is actually his ex-wife and the mother of Toyo.
Tiger gets Bailey off of the boat and they return to Tiger's home where the young man and Toyo resume their romance. But then, Mme. de Sylva arrives and proceeds to seduce the naive young man once more. The young man filled with guilt, is torn between the two women. Finally, Tiger is forced to take action and........................................
Lon Chaney is basically a supporting player in this one. The real stars of the film are the two ladies, the beautiful Ms. Taylor in particular. Her "femme fatale" is mesmerizing and she literally steals the picture. Lupe Velez, "The Mexican Spitfire", is anything but as the innocent young daughter, however she is quite convincing in her role nonetheless. Lloyd Hughes as the young man caught between a rock and a hard place, is excellent as well.
Chaney, his faced scarred up for his role, spends most of the film growling at Ms. Taylor. His facial expressions as always, convey the true feelings of his character.
Not one of Chaney's best but any film in which he appeared was always worth a look.
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