Help me solve this Bela Lugosi mystery...

[depressedlarrytalbot]

 


......   


...George DeNormand ?

[fibbermac]

This is embarrassing, but I now think that Lon is right. This is Ford Sterling. This is how I came to this conclusion:

I checked the IMDB and found that Sterling is listed as a cast member who plays the character Tricaud. I decided to watch the movie and find him by finding the character Tricaud and either prove or disprove that this was him. [Here comes the embarrassing part] I never tried watching the film to determine this clown's identity before because I knew that the resolution of my still photo was superior to that of my copy of this film. When I watched the film last night, this is what I found...

Here is the title card introducing Sterling...


Then you see Sterling (in polka-dots) and Chaney (in the dark solid) as they put on their clown make-up...


Later, we see this description of the clown act (in a program held by a member of the audience)...


Now look at the whole clown ensemble in the still that Lon posted...notice that Tricaud is the only clown dressed in a polka-dot costume. ALL OTHER 60 CLOWNS ARE DRESSED IDENTICALLY IN MOSTLY PLAIN WHITE COSTUMES.

Mr. Lugosi is highlighted:

Here are a few more screen grabs I took trying to see the faces better...




and here is the best image I can get of the clown Lon thought was Lugosi (seen here on the far right)...


This leads me to the unhappy conclusion that my original still resembles Lugosi, but in fact is Sterling. Also, there seems to be no satisfactory photographic evidence that Lugosi appears as a clown in this film.

Thanks to all who gave me their 2 cents worth on this topic. I wasn't sure that I would get a definitive answer to my question when I first asked. You guys gave me more than I ever could've hoped for.

-fibbermac-

[Monster Bob]

This guy looks like Lugosi as much as anybody...at least more than the guy on the right does...

[LonChaney]

O ye of little faith...

[Monster Bob]

[LonChaney]

You can see Mr. Lugosi here between HE and Mr. Sterling:

In the picture above, don't go by height because the floor is not level.  Here is another with Sterling and Cook:

If you don't believe that Mr. Lugosi is the joey whom I've identified, I don't know what else to tell you.  I sincerely hope that you find the proof you're looking for.

[hammett1]

Lon, Thank you kindly for the fantastic pictures.  It is always a pleasure to see pictures of one of my favorite actors. David

[Monster Bob]

You are saying this guy is Lugosi?




Out of curiosity, where did you get the information?

[LonChaney]

Boy, do I ever have egg on my face!

Someone with a far better memory and keener eye than mine (my wife) has informed me that I'm full of beans and that the following is, in fact, Mr. Lugosi:

It is on her authority that I now present to you (embarrassedly) this new information.  (And I advise strongly against arguing with her.)  Mr. Lugosi is in the film, however.

[LonChaney]

I still say it's the first clown.

[Scatter]

Then you don't mind if I mention his cast affiliation for those here who may never have heard of the man, do you?  You're welcome.  

Not at all..........you could have done so in a less smarmy and offensive manner, couldn't you?? I posted a pic because you offered nothing to which we could compare the clown pic.

So, I thought I would HELP YOU and the others who follow the thread by doing what you had failed to do.Offer a means of comparison. My only words were "Let's have a look" as I posted side-by-side photos.

You're welcome.

[depressedlarrytalbot]

Maybe it's just me but the bigger text seems kinda shouty. No offense.

[LonChaney]

My words were not meant to be insulting.  It's just that I know with certainty who the performers in the group of three are and I did not want anyone to spend their time needlessly trying to figure it out after I wrote it.  Also, when I'm in a hurry, I'm brief.

The size of my text is because, for some reason, I have difficulty reading this message board.  I write using the larger font so that I can see it better in preview.  I don't have that problem with the Classic Horror Film Board and, again, I have no idea why.  Also, I don't find this board as easy to navigate.

Finally, I'm the new kid on the block.  Sadly, it's been my experience that, no matter what or how I write, as the newbie, there's always going to be some regular who is hasty to judge, comes forward and finds a bone to pick.  This time, you're it.  Next time, in another forum, it will be someone else.  I don't care anymore.

[depressedlarrytalbot]

Naw. That's fair enough. It was just the juxtaposition of text size and the slight, er, head-butting above that combined in mine head to make it seem, well, shouty. Like I said - no offense meant.

Besides, I live in freakin' Oz and I still consider myself a newbie. How more out of it can one be? Hey we all gotta start somewhere... right?

[Wich2]

Thanks, fibbermac - nice to see evidence beyond just wishful thinking.

Lon - if I follow you, you've said that several faces are Bela's at this point? Isn't that looking for facts to to fit a theory, not building a theory from facts?