Lon Chaney, Sr.

WEST OF ZANZIBAR

MGM, 1928. Directed by Tod Browning.  Camera:  Percy Hilburn.  With Lon Chaney, Sr., Lionel Barrymore, Mary Nolan, Warner Baxter.

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Flint, a Limehouse magician, loses the use of his legs as the result of a fight with Crane, an ivory trader who has taken an interest in Flint's wife.  Several months later, Mrs. Flint dies, leaving behind a daughter, Maizie, whom the magician believes to be Crane's child rather than his own.  Flint takes the child and goes to Africa.

Years later, Flint, still believing Maizie to be Crane's daughter, arranges for her to become a prostitute in one of the native fleshpots.  Crane shows up and convinces Flint that Maizie is indeed Flint's own child.  Crane is killed by the natives, and Flint sacrifices his life so that Maizie can escape from the tropics with a regenerated white doctor.

American Film Institute Catalog