The Unknown (1927)
4.0 of 5 from 57 ratings
1h 3min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
Alonzo the Armless (Lon Chaney) is a circus freak who uses his feet to toss knives and fire a rifle at his partner, Nanon (Joan Crawford). However, he is an impostor and fugitive. He has arms, but keeps them tightly bound to his torso, a secret known only to his friend Cojo (John George), a midget. Alonzo's left hand has a double thumb, which would identify him as the perpetrator of various crimes. Alonzo is secretly in love with Nanon. Malabar, the circus strongman, is devoted to her as well, but she has a strong fear of men's arms and cannot stand being pawed by them, so she shuns him. She only feels comfortable around the armless Alonzo. When she embraces and kisses him, he is given hope, but Cojo warns him that he cannot let it happen again. If she holds him, she might feel his arms. - Actors:
- Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Joan Crawford, Nick De Ruiz, John George, Frank Lanning, Louise Emmons, Italia Frandi, Venezia Frandi, Julian Rivero, Billy Seay, John St. Polis
- Directors:
- Tod Browning
- Producers:
- Irving Thalberg
- Writers:
- Tod Browning, Waldemar Young, Joseph Farnham
- Aka:
- Alonzo the Armless
- Genres:
- Classics, Drama, Horror, Romance, Thrillers
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Reviews (2) of The Unknown
Come for the Circus, Stay for the Heartbreak and Neurosis - The Unknown review by griggs
Tod Browning’s The Unknown is a circus fairytale dipped in sweat, sawdust, and pure twisted devotion. Lon Chaney—master of the silent scream—delivers a powerhouse performance as a performer with secrets and a dangerously intense crush. Joan Crawford, in an early role, is equally compelling as the emotionally bruised Nanon.
It’s much more fun and far less exploitative than Freaks. Where that film leans on shock value, The Unknown thrives on genuine drama and physical performance. No gimmicks—just bold, bizarre storytelling and properly committed acting.
At under an hour, it’s tight, twisted, and wildly entertaining.
1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.
Silent Horror (spoilers). - The Unknown review by Steve
The wildest, craziest picture ever imagined. It is set in Madrid and claims to be a true story told by carnival folk... Lon Chaney plays a serial killer known to the police only for his unique double thumbs. So he straps his arms behind his back and joins a travelling circus as a knife act, throwing daggers at Joan Crawford with his feet. Who he loves...
Due to previous abuse, the girl can't stand to be touched. So she is neurotically repulsed by the attentions of the circus strongman (Norman Kerry). As the police close in, to hide his incriminating thumbs and to indulge her fetishistic attraction to him, Chaney has both his arms removed by a surgeon he is blackmailing!
Unfortunately, when he returns to the circus, the showgirl has got over phobia and married the muscleman. The now insanely jealous knife thrower devises a hideous revenge! Phew. This is pretty uninhibited stuff. The story was created by Tod Browning who left home as a child to join a circus. Chaney's upbringing was equally unconventional.
Many silent horrors have the illusory mania of a febrile dream. And that is the attraction here. And it's a lot of fun watching Chaney (and his stand-in) acting with his feet. Browning and Chaney did astonishing work elsewhere, but there was an alchemy when they worked together. It feels like absolutely anything is possible.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.