The 1920 silent film "The Penalty" is about a crippled man who becomes "Blizzard", the ruthless "king" of San Francisco's underworld. The film was loosely based on the 1913 novel by Gouverneur Morris. A young boy was injured in an accident and treated by an inexperienced doctor who amputated his legs. The boy has grown up full of resentment for his condition and plans to avenge himself on the doctor and his family. His other and larger plan is to command an army of criminals and malcontents in a scheme to paralyze the city's police and fire departments and then loot the undefended city. Included in his plans is the robbery of the San Francisco Mint located at Fifth and Mission Streets. The building was active as a mint at the time; it opened in 1874 and closed in 1937. The building is now known as the Old Mint or the "Granite Lady."

The city has one hideous blemish, The Barbary Coast, the location of vice and gambling.

The Diana Hall and the Hippodrome were real places in San Francisco then. And now appears "Blizzard", the lord and master of the underworld.

Blizzard wears a pair of leather covers over his stumps. He is very intelligent and has a knowledge of music and art. The chief of the Federal Secret Service tells Rose, his most daring operative, that Blizzard, "that cripple from Hell", is up to something. He asks her to infiltrate Blizzard's organization. Whether he means Bolsheviks or the name of the gang isn't clear. Blizzard tells his current mistress that he has a plan: Dr. Ferris is now a famous surgeon of the city and he lives with his daughter Barbara. Dr. Wilmot Allen is Dr. Ferris' assistant and would like to marry Barbara. Barbara, however, has dedicated herself to Art, and refuses to marry until she produces a masterpiece of sculpture. Rose takes the assignment, which means becoming Blizzard's mistress. She succeeds, partly due to her education in music, and mainly by being able to manipulate the foot pedals while Blizzard plays his piano.

Barbara places an advertisement in the newspaper:

Blizzard is hired as the model and later tells his associates:

Barbara asks Blizzard how he knows so much about Art, and he tells her that his father was a distinguished man who detested the boy's deformity and caused the boy to leave home. Barbara: "Why do you live in the underworld?" Blizzard " When Satan fell from Heaven he looked for power in Hell." Barbara's father visits and recognizes the model as the boy he treated so long ago.

The two men recognize each other.

Dr. Ferris then tells Barbara the story of his failure with the boy. The story inspires Barbara with more affection for Blizzard.

Back at his house, Blizzard meets with his main assistant and lays out his plan. First, thousands of disgruntled foreign laborers and malcontents will infiltrate the city.

Then an explosion will be the signal for the attack.

A mob appears downtown near the Ferry Building (which is still standing).

"The heart of the city will be left defenseless - ours to loot at will"

This building has housed banks for many years. And now for the Mint:

Blizzard still scheming, now with legs, orders his men to enter the Mint.

It looks about the same.

Blizzard's men carry bags of loot down the steps, most likely gold coins.

Blizzard concludes his scheme, but his assistant asks him:

Rose has moved into Blizzard's house.

Rose has fallen for Blizzard and their shared love of music has made them lovers.

Blizzard begins romancing Barbara, but she laughs at him. He begins to attack her but can't reach her on his stumps. Blizzard leaves, Dr. Allen arrives, and she tells him that she will marry him. Back home, Blizzard puts his revenge plan into effect.

Dr. Ferris, Barbara, and Dr. Allen are separately lured to Blizzard's house and he tells Dr. Allen:

Blizzard explains his bizarre plan to Dr. Ferris.

The doctor replies: "You're right, you'd be a Superman. I'll do it!"

Dr. Ferris explains that he operated on Blizzard's head and not on his legs. He removed a contusion at the base of the skull which caused pressure on the brain, explaining:

Blizzard announces that he is leaving crime and reverting to his real name (which is not stated). His former associates, having heard of his conversion, become worried.

They worry that Blizzard will "snitch" or inform on them, and decide to eliminate him. Blizzard is now married to Rose.

Frisco Pete is the chosen assassin and he shoots the former Blizzard, who, dying exclaims:

"All that's left of him - an evil mask of a great soul."

Lon Chaney as Blizzard
Charles Clary as Dr. Ferris
Claire Adams as Barbara Ferris (Daughter)
Ethel Grey Terry as Rose (Secret Service)
Kenneth Harlan as Dr. Wilmot Allen (Dr. Ferris' assistant)
James Mason as Frisco Pete (Blizzard's man)
Director: Wallace Worsley
Writers: Charles Kenyon, Gouverneur Morris