The Trap (1922) watch online

The Trap is a 1922 American silent Western film directed by Robert Thornby and starring Lon Chaney and Alan Hale. It was released by Universal Pictures. The film was released in the United Kingdom under the title Heart of a Wolf (some sources still list the film under that title). One working title for the film was Wolfbreed. The film was re-released in the U.S. in 1926.

The screenplay was written by George C. Hull, based on a story idea that was co-written by Lon Chaney. A lobby card exists from the film, as well as a photo of Chaney as Gaspard. The film was finished in September 1921, but was only released on May 9, 1922, in New York City.

The film stars Chaney as the leading character, Alan Hale as his rival, and Irene Rich as the female lead. Chaney had also appeared in an unrelated film of the same name in 1913. The film also features (in a very minor role) Chaney's real-life son Creighton (later known as Lon Chaney Jr.) in his film debut. Junior plays one of the little children who flock around behind Gaspard in the very first scene of the film.

Critic Jon C. Mirsalis commented "Seen today, THE TRAP is a dismal entry in Chaney's career. The dialogue titles are done in a phony French accent (e.g., "An dat leetle papaire tak' w'at was my fathaire's?"), and the overly melodramatic story probably seemed dated even in 1922. Chaney would soon go on to much better productions. This was his last work for Universal until THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME."

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