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Outside the Law

Play trailer Poster for Outside the Law Released Jan 6, 1921 1h 15m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Under the gentle tutelage of Confucian monk Chang Lo (E. Alyn Warren), father and daughter criminals Silent Madden (Ralph Lewis) and Silky Moll (Priscilla Dean) are attempting to go straight. When rival Black Mike Sylva (Lon Chaney) falsely pins a murder on Silent Madden, Silky and Dapper Bill (Wheeler Oakman) agree to help Sylva with a jewel heist, planning to double-cross him. Holed up with the stolen jewels, Silky Moll undergoes a religious conversion that causes her to repent her many sins.

Critics Reviews

View All (7) Critics Reviews
Ruth Boyle New York Daily News A wealth of Chinatown local color, Lon Chaney and one fascinating baby would make any photoplay worth seeing. Outside the Law has the additional attraction of Priscilla Dean. Sep 13, 2021 Full Review Robert E. Sherwood LIFE A good idea, well worked out, an decidedly well acted by Priscilla Dean, Wheeler Oakman and the ferocious Lon Chaney. We recommend the picture to those who share our own dime novel tastes. Oct 4, 2021 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid It doesn't quite have the personal touches that Browning's later films would have, but it's a strong entertainment nonetheless. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 25, 2020 Full Review Sarah Boslaugh TheArtsStl ...the elaborate, stylized sets used to represent San Francisco's Chinatown are a delight as is the palatial "Spencer home" where a key scene takes place. Rated: 6/10 Oct 24, 2020 Full Review Harriette Underhill New York Tribune Those who like crook melodrama with scenes in Chinatown ave certainly going to like Outside the Law, for it is much bigger than anything of the kind we have seen. Nov 6, 2019 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy It's lucky for the film that when Priscilla Dean isn't onscreen, Lon Chaney usually is, since those two are by and large the only humans that give it any kind of spice. Rated: 7/10 Mar 31, 2014 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The greatest 1.25 hours ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member Inventive crime drama about jewel thieves, with romance, emotion, glamour and suspense. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member A pretty good crime drama, I think Browning is better at horror, but this movie was enjoyable. The story is good, and the actors too, it's not great, but I liked it anyway. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Minor Chaney effort is still somewhat interesting. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Tod Browning's atmospheric silent crime melodrama is an early collaboration with screen icon Lon Chaney. As memorable as Chaney's dual role is, it's really only a supporting performance, but Priscilla Dean and Wheeler Oakman make compelling leads. The story is uneven, but it has some effective suspense scenes and an exciting climax - dated notions of cultural sensitivity and moral judgement aside. A solid early effort, but it pales in comparison to the dark gothic masterpieces Browning and Chaney would make a few years later. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Outside the Law

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Outside the Law

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Movie Info

Synopsis Under the gentle tutelage of Confucian monk Chang Lo (E. Alyn Warren), father and daughter criminals Silent Madden (Ralph Lewis) and Silky Moll (Priscilla Dean) are attempting to go straight. When rival Black Mike Sylva (Lon Chaney) falsely pins a murder on Silent Madden, Silky and Dapper Bill (Wheeler Oakman) agree to help Sylva with a jewel heist, planning to double-cross him. Holed up with the stolen jewels, Silky Moll undergoes a religious conversion that causes her to repent her many sins.
Director
Tod Browning
Screenwriter
Gardner Bradford, Tod Browning, Lucien Hubbard
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 6, 1921, Original
Release Date (DVD)
Jun 27, 2000
Runtime
1h 15m