Lon Chaney, More Than an Actor

Born on April 1, 1883, in Colorado Springs Colorado a man named Lon Chaney was born to grow up and entertain millions of people throughout the world with his talent in the silent cinema film industry where his name became synonymous with movies such as "The Hunchback of Notre Dam" and many others. In an article written by Richard Day Gore ≈ Lon Chaney: The Man of a Thousand Faces ≈ the author brings to our attention the prison reform writings of this wonderful actor who starred in so many movies taking on so many different faces and roles he was one of Hollywood's best of the early silver screen.

This man sensed the wrath of the First World War and as he played different roles of both horror monsters and other creations, he became aware of those individuals struggling with post traumatic stress and crippled because of the war and the after affects of the gas and other tortures used during those days. His mind and actions as well as "in his cripples and crooks, sad clowns and lovelorn rejects, he "illuminated the tortured pathways of the human mind and spirit." The article goes on to state Lon Chaney wrote on prison reform that was published in 1930, he makes a statement that goes to the heart of many of his characterizations: "It is a basic fact that in every man is an inherent desire to be a respected member of society."

What was strange that in his writings came many of those same words that appear as a majority mission statement for the United Nations preamble for human rights that have echoed throughout the world as this agency's mission is to help and save people from inhumane treatment and human rights violations.

It appears this man's insight on the issues of prison reforms has still not yet reached the majority of people who can change the way we incarcerate and treat people who are mentally ill and need treatment more than incarceration. To maintain their own self respect while struggling with their illnesses is not something that can be successfully attained within the setting of a prison where the person becomes nothing less than a number with total disregard to their needs and treatment that may allow them to become functional and productive within our society once they are re-aligned with their coping skills and medication.

Sources:

http://silenthollywood.com/lonchaney.html

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml