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The Tower of Lies

Film Information:
Production: Not Available;
Premiere: Not Available;
Released: October 11, 1925;
Production/Distribution Companies: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures;
Director: Victor Seastrom;
Based on the novel The Emperor of Portugallia by Selma Ottiliana;
Scenario: Agnes Christine Johnston; Max Marcin;
Photography: Percy Hilburn;
Film editor: J. Haden;
Art Direction: Cedric Gibbons; James Basevi;
Running time: unknown (lost film);
Not available on VHS or DVD (lost);

Cast: Norma Shearer as Glory; Lon Chaney as Jan; Ian Keith as Lars; Claire McDowell as Katrina; William Haines as August; David Torrence as Eric;

Reviews:

Herb Cruikshank in Exhibitor's Trade Review, October, 1925: "Norma Shearer makes a fine Glory. In the sequence where she returns from the city wealthy in the wages of sin, she is most effective. The transition is well done."

Variety, September, 1925: "Notwithstanding that The Tower of Lies is a sincerely made picture and excellent from the artistic and literary viewpoints, it is too heavy for the picture audiences. When finished, the impression left is that one more prostitute has been reformed and been forgiven."

Notes/Trivia:
This was the second and last time Norma Shearer and Lon Chaney made a film together. The first being, He Who Gets Slapped (1924).
Norma Shearer recieved top billing over Lon Chaney for reasons still unknown today. Chaney had been a Hollywood star for some time, Norma had only recently made it to the top of the box office charts.
The film received mixed reviews, and brought in only a modest profit at the box office.
The Tower of Lies is one of many to be considered one of Norma Shearer's best silents. Like most of her best silents, it is a lost film.