The Unknown (1927)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Tod Browning

Writers:

Tod Browning (story)
Waldemar Young (scenario)
(more)

Release Date:

4 June 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Romance

Plot:

Alonzo is an apparently armless knife thrower who uses his feet to encircle Estrellita with blades....

Plot Keywords:

Love | Circus | Freak | Horse | Surgery

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Lon Chaney	...	Alonzo the Armless
Norman Kerry	...	Malabar the Mighty, Circus Strongman
Joan Crawford	...	Nanon Zanzi
Nick De Ruiz	...	Antonio Zanzi, Nanon's Father
John George	...	Cojo, Alonzo's Assistant
Frank Lanning	...	Costra
Polly Moran	...	Landlady (scenes deleted)
Bobbie Mack	...	Gypsy (scenes deleted)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louise Emmons	...	Gypsy Woman (uncredited)
Julian Rivero	...	Man in Audience (uncredited)
Billy Seay	...	The Little Wolf (uncredited)
John St. Polis	...	Surgeon (uncredited)

Directed by
Tod Browning

Writing credits
Mary Roberts Rinehart		(novel "K") uncredited
Tod Browning		(story)
Waldemar Young		(scenario)
Joseph Farnham		(titles)

Cinematography by
Merritt B. Gerstad		(as M. Gerstad)

Film Editing by
Harry Reynolds
Errol Taggart

Set Decoration by
Richard Day		(settings)
Cedric Gibbons		(settings)

Stunts
Paul Desmuke	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Clarence Sinclair Bull	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lucia Coulter	....	wardrober

Music Department
Jack Feinberg	....	set musician (uncredited)
Sam Feinberg	....	set musician (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1927) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Network Enterprises (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Alonzo the Armless (USA) (working title)
Alonzo kädetön (Finland) [fi]
Demon cyrku (Poland) [pl]
Der Mann ohne Hände (Austria) [de]
Der Unbekannte (Austria) [de]
Garras humanas (Spain) [es]
L'inconnu (France) [fr]
Lo sconosciuto (Italy) [it]
O Homem Sem Braços (Portugal) [pt]
The Unknown - Der Unbekannte (Germany) [de]

Runtime:

63 min (23 fps) | UK:49 min (BFI print) | USA:49 min (alternate version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG | USA:Unrated

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Joan Crawford always considered The Unknown (1927) a big turning point for her. She said it wasn't until working with Lon Chaney in this film that she learned the difference between standing in front of a camera and acting in front of a camera. She said that was all due to Lon Chaney and his intense concentration, and after that experience she said she worked much harder to become a better actress.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alonzo and Cojo are drinking wine, the glass suddenly fills between shots.

Quotes:

Alonzo the Armless: No one will get her... no one but me!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)

Thumbs Up!

I give this one 8/10 simply for uniqueness. It's not a horror film, but if you can follow and swallow it The Unknown certainly is an unsettling experience. I don't think anyone has spoiled it yet for the unwary so for an explanation of why, the best thing to do is watch it! Suffice to report it's a tale of twisted love and the lengths a man's passion goes to ... to get his hands on the woman. Alonzo didn't understand women however!

Tod Browning sailed close to the edge as usual, and Lon Chaney put in a fine performance as a murderer on the run - I presume he was, from extrapolation of events in the 47 minute TCM UK TV version. Joan Crawford looked very pretty, before Hollywood really got hold of her and uglified her.

There's obviously many bits missing from this print, but by paying attention it's fairly straightforward to understand. I think it's worth it too, especially if you like silent films as I do. The scenes photographed through gauze were striking, but what was that all about?! Overall, different and slightly depressing - is the moral we men are all so desperate when infatuated with a woman?