- The Story Guy Newsletter
- Posts
- Bob Dylan Movie Recommendation
To read more free writing tips of my Story Guy Newsletter, click here.
The Unknown (1927), a silent love/horror film starring Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford, came to my attention through Bob Dylan's recommendation on Twitter/X:
“Nick Newman had replied to a tweet a few weeks back asking me what movies I would recommend. I told him to try The Unknown with Lon Chaney and go from there.”
The film is a revelation. Its masterful storytelling hinges on two key strengths:
* A brilliantly established premise and its inexorable escalation through a series of logical yet devastating ironic twists.
* The characters' motivations unfolding with mesmerizing inevitability towards a stunning climax.
The Unknown reminds me of two classic works by Victor Hugo, The King Amuses Himself and The Man Who Laughs. The first is a tale twisted with irony, while the second is the poignant tale about a man disfigured – on the outside.
If you are interested in how to develop irony in a story, Victor Hugo is a master at it. And The Unknown has some great lessons.
Click here to watch a (free) version of The Unknown.
Do you use Ironic Twists in your stories? |
“I would recommend Scott to any writer and/or Producer wishing to engage an expert Story Consultant.” John Hipwell, Producer
Read more reviews of Scott’s story work.
To receive more free writing advice like the tips above click here to subscribe to The Story Guy Newsletter.
More Deep Dives Into Scriptwriting
1) To read about when to hit the story help button click here.
2) To learn about my six months of one-on-one coaching click here.
3) To read about The Hook, the secret to creating a compelling script, click here.
Stories are ideas in conflict and action
#BobDylan #FilmReviews #SilentMovies
Reply