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Poster for The Penalty

The Penalty

Seen it?

1920 | 90 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Asphalt Jungle or Insomnia, start here.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 30 min.
What might put you off
Made in 1920: an older pace and style.

Blizzard, deranged from a childhood operation in which both his legs were needlessly amputated after an accident, becomes a vicious criminal, and eventually mob leader of the San Francisco underworld.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    83% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 8K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

Directed by Wallace Worsley

  • Lon ChaneyBlizzard
  • Charles ClaryDr. Ferris
  • Doris PawnBarbary Nell
  • James Pier MasonFrisco Pete (as James Mason)
  • Milton RossLichtenstein
  • Ethel Grey TerryRose
  • Kenneth HarlanDr. Wilmot Allen
  • Claire AdamsBarbara Ferris
  • Montgomery CarlyleA Crook (uncredited)
  • Michael DarkMan (uncredited)