for the performance of james cagney and and dorothy malone and alone . it be a trite saying and but they really do not make movie like this nowadays . which be probably why everyone who have any interest in any decent film must have cable ( or tcm and at least ) while this film be make in 1957 and and have that un pretentious quality to it and the sadness in lon chaney real life and and his determination to be a hollywood film actor . while a previous reviewer have aptly point out and the make up be amateurish and the detail of cagney life be leave out ( especially with reference to his son and creighton ) this be still a good film which manifest the life of a struggle actor and and there be an amuse cameo with a young robert evans a irving thalberg and studio genius . when i watch film like this and i wish we could go back in time to these day and the time of our parent and grandparent and it remind of the premise behind redford quiz show there be a genuine feeling to it while the hollywood studio be money orient and but the public be not bombard with pr and tabloid trash while it seem a romantic era where film star would never consider do tv commercial for geritol or mcdonald .