^{CHARLEY BRADY}

One of the most instantly recognizable film production companies, Metro Goldwyn Mayer, was founded 100 years ago – on April 17, 1924, to be precise. And the very first production to be released entirely under the MGM trademark was the Lon Chaney vehicle He Who Gets Slapped, directed by Victor Seastrom.

That wonderful film historian, the late Ivan Butler, actually saw it during its release and described it as ‘a landmark in the silent period’. Personally, anything with Lon Chaney in it is a landmark for me, but as Butler points out, it also furthered the careers of Norma Shearer and John Gilbert, not to mention those marvelous character actors, Marc McDermott and Tully Marshall.

According to Butler, the strangely beautiful camerawork and direction lifts the film above its melodramatic roots.

An embittered scientist makes the peculiar career change of becoming a clown who finds fame in being slapped and humiliated. And I really don’t know what to add to that rather remarkable synopsis. The words ‘what the --?’ spring to mind, but this is a family-friendly site.

The very first lion – and the one who presided over Mr. Chaney as a clown – was Slats, born on March 20 1919 in Dublin Zoo. Slats had stars in his eyes however and making his way to Hollywood, appeared in the famous MGM logo between 1924 and 1928, distinguishing him as the only one of seven who was silent. Poor Slats.

The sixth and longest-serving was Leo, also born in Ireland and giving it his all from 1957 through to 2021, when he was replaced by a Computer-Generated fake. Which pretty much sums up the world in general, I guess.

What do you mean, is that it? What do you expect of these little snippets every week, blood? I just found it interesting, that’s all.

Besides, you should know that – unlike for Slats and Leo – too much red meat is bad for you.

^{charleybrady@gmail.com}