Watch West of Zanzibar

West of Zanzibar is an emotionally-driven film that tells the story of a revengeful and disfigured magician who plots against the man responsible for leaving him paralyzed and causing his wife's demise. The movie opens with a scene of Phroso (Lon Chaney), a skilled magician, falling off a stage while performing a trick that goes wrong. His arch-nemesis Crane (Lionel Barrymore), the head of the circus troupe, witnesses the accident but takes no measures to assist him. Instead, Crane takes advantage of Phroso's physical disadvantage to win his wife's affection, resulting in Phroso being left paralyzed by a fall into a river. In addition to his physical tragedy, Phroso has to bear the pain of losing his wife and son, whom he had to give away to ensure their lives.

Determined to seek revenge, Phroso finds himself in Africa's wilderness, where he sets up a colony and names himself "Dead Legs." From there, he plots against Crane's life while keeping him unaware of his presence. While Crane believes that Phroso is dead, Phroso uses his shaman powers to manipulate the residents of the colony, who worship him as a god.

When Crane arrives in the African wilderness, he is met by Dead Legs, who he takes for a mere savage. However, he is shocked when he sees Dead Legs standing upright when he believed him to be paralyzed. Fear grips Crane when Dead Legs reveals his motivations and his vengeful plans, and terrors ensue as Dead Legs pursues Crane with his vengeful wrath.

The film's true strength lies in its storytelling and character development. Phroso's character is well-defined, and the audience can understand his motivations due to the tragic circumstances that he experienced. The film's makeup artist has done an incredible job creating Lon Chaney's disfigured face, which helps in gaining the audience's sympathy for Phroso's character. The character of Crane is equally well-developed, as the audience can't help but despise him for his actions and the way he treated Phroso.

The other gem of the movie is its dark and foreboding atmosphere that keeps the audience constantly on edge. The film's visual elements are well-executed, with some excellent landscapes of the African wilderness. Instead of the typical idealized scenery that was featured in most films in the 20s, West of Zanzibar features unique and authentic locations and costumes.

The performances by the lead actors are awe-inspiring, but it is Lon Chaney who shines as the deformed and revengeful magician. Chaney was known for his incredible transformation ability, having played a variety of roles throughout his career, including the Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera. In West of Zanzibar, he paints a picture of a man consumed by hatred, and his emotions reflect on his actions.

The film's score adds a considerable amount of tension and suspense, making the audience feel uneasy during crucial moments. The film's sound design is also a part of its success, with some of the scenes featuring a great use of atmospheric sound.

West of Zanzibar is timeless in several ways, despite being a silent film. Firstly, it features a storyline that is incredibly relevant, even in today's context. The audience can understand and empathize with Phroso even in today's society, where individuals face adversities and may fall victim to others' selfish interests. Secondly, the film explores themes such as revenge, love, and power, which remain as some of the most important aspects of storytelling today.

Overall, West of Zanzibar is a visual masterpiece and a must-watch for fans of silent cinema. The film's storytelling, character development, and stunning visuals make it a hallmark of cinema's golden age.

West of Zanzibar is a 1928 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 4 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2.