I've often wondered if Lon Chaney Jr. actually donned the makeup for anything other than the transition scenes and publicity shots. Could it have been someone else under the makeup for the 'action' scenes? You know, in much the same way as Boris Karloff in Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde, where he did the transition shots, but it was someone else in the rest of the movie. What do you think?
I think for the most part, it's Lon, especially in the first one. In Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, there's a good portion where it's a stunt double and the close ups are Lon. You can kind of tell when it's a double.
If it was anyone doubling Lon in The Wolf Man, it would have been Eddie Parker. He definitely doubled Lon in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man particularly in the early scenes. He is not listed for stunts in The Wolf Man on imdb, so Robby is most likely correct that Lon did most of his stunts in that film. Eddie Porker definitely doubled Boris Karloff in Abbott and Costello Meet Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The last film he made was Spartacus just before passing away from a heart attack whilst preparing to appear on the Jack Benny TV program in 1960. He was one of the most prolific stuntmen in Hollywood from the early 1930's through to 1960.
I've often wondered if Lon Chaney Jr. actually donned the makeup for anything other than the transition scenes and publicity shots. Could it have been someone else under the makeup for the 'action' scenes? You know, in much the same way as Boris Karloff in Abbott & Costello Meet Dr. Jekyl & Mr. Hyde, where he did the transition shots, but it was someone else in the rest of the movie. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteI think for the most part, it's Lon, especially in the first one.
DeleteIn Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man, there's a good portion where it's a stunt double and the close ups are Lon. You can kind of tell when it's a double.
If it was anyone doubling Lon in The Wolf Man, it would have been Eddie Parker.
ReplyDeleteHe definitely doubled Lon in Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man particularly in the early scenes.
He is not listed for stunts in The Wolf Man on imdb, so Robby is most likely correct that Lon did most of his stunts in that film.
Eddie Porker definitely doubled Boris Karloff in Abbott and Costello Meet Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
The last film he made was Spartacus just before passing away from a heart attack whilst preparing to appear on the Jack Benny TV program in 1960.
He was one of the most prolific stuntmen in Hollywood from the early 1930's through to 1960.