10 Movie Actors Who Refused To Talk To Directors On Set

1925's The Phantom of the Opera may be regarded today as a classic of the silent era, but that's basically a miracle given the film's friction-filled production.

Director Rupert Julian had a reputation for his "uncompromising personality," causing him to bristle up against not only studio MGM but also most of the cast and crew, especially his equally steadfast lead actor Lon Chaney.

Julian and Chaney clashed enough that mediators had to be brought in to facilitate communications between them, who had given up speaking altogether by the end of shooting.

Cinematographer Charles Van Enger was largely responsible for acting as a messenger between the pair, and in one instance upon delivering Julian's direction to Chaney, the actor replied, "Tell him to go to hell."

Ultimately the catastrophic production led to massive reshoots with input from three additional directors - including Chaney himself - all of whom went uncredited for their extensive work shaping the film.

While initial critical response was mixed, The Phantom of the Opera endures today as an unassailable horror masterwork, largely thanks to Chaney's indelible performance.