The Shock | 1923 | Crime Drama

Title: The Shock | 1923 | Crime Drama Director: Lambert Hillyer Studio: Universal Pictures Starring: Lon Chaney, Virginia Valli, Jack Mower, William Welsh, Henry A. Barrows, Christine Mayo, Walter Long Based on: Story “Pit of the Golden Dragon” by William Dudley Pelley Release Date: June 10 1923 Runtime: Approximately 96 minutes Format: Silent black and white Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Crime Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction to San Francisco underworld 00:15:00 Wilse Dilling receives assignment 00:30:00 Arrival in Fallbrook 00:45:00 Romance with Gertrude Hadley 01:00:00 Conflict with Queen Ann’s plot 01:15:00 Earthquake and final resolution --- Summary: The Shock is a 1923 American silent crime drama in which Wilse Dilling, a crippled underling of an underworld boss named Queen Ann, is sent to a small town to spy on a banker she is blackmailing. While in Fallbrook, Dilling begins to soften as he befriends the townsfolk and falls in love with the banker’s daughter, leading him to question his criminal loyalties. As plots unfold and danger arises, his emotional transformation becomes central to the story, blending melodrama with suspense and romance. --- Background: Directed by Lambert Hillyer and produced by Universal Pictures as a “Universal Jewel,” The Shock showcases Lon Chaney’s physical and dramatic skills as an actor known for transformative roles. Filmed in 1922 and released in mid-1923, the movie is notable for its blend of crime narrative, character development, and a climactic earthquake sequence that reflects early cinematic spectacle. --- Trivia: The story features Lon Chaney as a criminal who finds redemption through love, a rare sympathetic turn in his career. The film’s plot was adapted from a magazine story by William Dudley Pelley. The Shock includes a dramatic earthquake sequence set in San Francisco. Prints survive in film archives including Cineteca di Bologna and UCLA Film & Television Archive. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: June 10 1923 Original Studio / Distributor: Universal Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #TheShock1923 #LonChaney #SilentFilm #CrimeDrama #UniversalPictures #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain