The Unknown (1927)

Directed by

Tod Browning

Genre

drama film, horror film, silent film

Country

United States

Runtime

1h 03m

Rated

NR

Rating

7.5 of 10 from 213 voters

Elsewhere

IMDb

How it feels

A carnival knife thrower pretends to have no arms to win the love of a pretty coworker. His dark secret threatens their relationship.

tensemelancholicunsettlingslow-burnvisually starkgloomycircus-like

What happens

The Unknown is a 1927 American silent horror film directed by Tod Browning, and starring Lon Chaney as carnival knife thrower "Alonzo the Armless" and Joan Crawford as his beloved carnival girl Nanon. Originally titled Alonzo the Armless, filming took place from February 7 to March 18, 1927 on a $217,000 budget. The film carried the tagline: "A superb mystery thriller, unusual and startling even for a Chaney film. Lon as "The Unknown" eats, drinks, shoots a rifle and dresses with his feet. Don't miss this startling spectacle!" Stills exist showing Chaney made up as Alonzo the Armless. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

Trailer

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