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 | Romance | Thriller

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:
Venezia Frandi	...	(unconfirmed)
Louise Emmons	...	Gypsy Woman (uncredited)
Italia Frandi	...	Girl in Audience flirting with Malabar (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)

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:

Malabar the Mighty, Circus Strongman: Why do you always draw away from me?
Nanon Zanzi: Why isn't he different from other men! Why doesn't he keep his hands off me?
Nanon Zanzi: Hands! Men's hands! How I hate them!
Nanon Zanzi: Men! The beasts! God would show wisdom if he took the hands from all of them!
Nanon Zanzi: Forgive me, Alonzo... I did not mean you.
Nanon Zanzi: You are the one man I can come to without fear.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)

Another Browning Masterpiece

This is a truly spellbinding movie, one of the more bizarre you are likely to see. With Lon Chaney hiding from the law pretending to be an armless circus performer. Joan Crawford is stunningly beautiful as Nanon, the girl he loves. A well done serpentine story that tells more in under an hour than most films made today can tell in two hours. Chaney is the best film actor of all time, he really was the man of a thousand faces. It is a shame that some Browning/Chaney films have been lost forever, but this is one that should be watched by all, it is fantastic.