Silky Moll (Priscilla Dean) is a renowned thief and the daughter of gang boss Silent Madden (Ralph Lewis). They're friends with Chinatown businessman and personal counselor Chang Lo (E. Alyn Warren), who has convinced them both to go legit and leave their life of crime. Rival gangster Black Mike Sylva (Lon Chaney) needs Silky Moll's skills for a jewel heist, so he concocts a frame-up on her dad that drives the angry young woman back into the life. However, fellow criminal Dapper Bill Ballard (Wheeler Oakman) gives Silky the lowdown, and the two of them steal the jewels for themselves. They go into hiding until things cool down, during which time they both reflect on the life they've lived and what their future holds. Chaney also plays Ah Wing, the Chinese servant of Chang Lo. Also featuring Anna May Wong.

There's a lot to applaud here, and also some to lament. On the positive side, both Dean and Oakman are terrific. They were a real couple at the time, and they have genuine chemistry. Dean, in particular, gives one of the most nuanced, multi-layered performances by an actress that I have seen from this period in film. One thing that helps is Browning's use of close-ups, allowing the performers to emote more naturally. Chaney is of course terrific, but this brings up the issues I have with the movie.

The only version that survives is a re-release from several years after the original premiere, and a good chunk of footage had been edited out, namely the majority of the sub-plot featuring the Chinese characters Chang Lo and Ah Wing, and it's a real shame, too, since, although still being played by Caucasian actors in "yellow-face", the Chinese are treated with respect, and Confucian philosophy and its strength are keys to the plot. What remains of the film is very enjoyable, though, and the climax is a surprisingly violent, fast-edited powerhouse. Recommended.

Chinatown, San Francisco serves as the backdrop to this intriguing story of a couple of criminals, having stolen some jewels in a heist, holed up in an apartment building to stay low from the cops and another criminal they rooked named Black Mike. The woman, played with fiery intensity by a ravishing Priscilla Dean, and man, Dapper Bill played by Wheeler Oakman with some charisma, soon realize they want to go straight and make new lives for themselves. An older Oriental figure of some importance in the Chinatown community had been telling Molly, Dean's character, and her father that crime does not pay and lives can all be changed for the good. This influence and the kindness/understanding that goes with it, the love that develops between Molly and Bill, and a small child that wends his momentary ways into their hearts all help this transformation of character take place. Outside the Law is a really remarkable film for a number of reasons when you considered it was made in 1920! Director Tod Browning shows that he can direct. After all he learned under the master himself, D. W. Griffith. Browning paces the flow and action of the film very nicely and manages to create characters that are not just stereotypes but three-dimensional. The acting helps do this naturally as well as all of it is quite good, but make no mistake - acting honors go to the "Man of a Thousand Faces" Lon Chaney in an early screen role well before he and Browning were stars. Chaney is brilliant not only as the nefarious Black Mike - oozing oily charm, but also as Ah Wing, the Asian helper to the old Chinese friend of the Madden family. Chaney could have played both roles in a very stereotypical fashion and still be credible, but Chaney pours his heart into each and makes them truly believable. As Ah Wing he is also almost undetectable. As far as Chaney's very early features go, Outside the Law is currently my favorite.

I have always been a fan of Lon Chaney, but I have never had the opportunity to see some of his early films. "Outside the Law", released in 1920 is one of his early gems.

Chaney at this time, had not yet achieved the stardom that he was to experience in a few short years. In this film, Chaney plays two supporting roles, that of a thug named "Black Mike" and a Chinese servant named Ah Wing. The hero and heroine are played by Priscilla Dean and Wheeler Oakman. I had not heard of Ms. Dean before this, but I can say that she gave an excellent performance. Oakman, who wound up in "B" westerns in the 30s, was good as well.

Chaney's characters are totally different and his makeup for the Ah Wing character is phenominal. It gives us a glimpse of kind of makeup artistry that we would experience in his future films.

The tape that I watched this film on was duplicated from a partially decomposed nitrate print, however most of the "bad film" is in the final reels but is still watchable.

In "Outside the Law", we can see the emergence of the genius that was Lon Chaney.