The Unknown

1927

1h 5m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

88%

Audience Score

1,000+ Ratings

On the run from the law, Alonzo (Lon Chaney) hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder -- a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo actually has the use of his arms but keeps them concealed so that his true identity remains under wraps. Meanwhile, Alonzo falls in love with another performer, Nanon (Joan Crawford), who has a phobia against being touched by a man. But when the circus owner (Nick De Ruiz) discovers Alonzo's true identity, the performer makes a tragic decision.

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J. R. Jones

Chicago Reader

With its undercurrents of frigidity and castration anxiety, the story was excellent material for Browning, and the film races along with the awful momentum of a bad dream.

Jul 14, 2022

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Globe Staff

Boston Globe

[The Unknown] is scarcely a film which children should see, but to the average mystery lover it is gripping and extremely well acted.

Jun 24, 2022

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Browning and Chaney were allowed to pursue the dark corners of this twisted melodrama without restraint, resulting in one of the silent cinema’s great precursors to the horror genre

Rated: 4/4

Nov 12, 2023

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Each one, by nature of the period in which they were released and how audiences responded to them, have a legacy that must be explored, mulled over, and come to terms with if cinema is going to tell honest stories without exploitation.

Oct 17, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Freakish and fascinating.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 14, 2023

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Robert E. Sherwood

LIFE

The unknown is a real moving picture... It is Tod Browning, with his fine sense of pictorial values, who makes it so.

Oct 5, 2021

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Valerii Ege D

I adore Lon Chaney because he never plays simple roles. He likes to push himself. Phantom of the Opera, The Penalty, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Unknown. Always weird and compelling roles.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/02/23

Full Review

William L

Witness, as Lon Chaney wiggles his toes with malicious intent! As a drama, The Unknown is quite firmly in the territory of "strange" trying to provide a macabre twist on a classic formula of obsession, but it does provide ample opportunity for the Man of a Thousand Faces to flex his artistic muscle, grimacing and scowling with evil intent. (3/5)

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/18/20

Full Review

andy f

Anything with Lon Chaney Sr is worth watching and this macabre love story is a fine testament to the silent era. Atmospheric and disturbing, Chaney as ever, steals the show.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Lon Chaney at his very best. The characters are memorable and the final scene is cringe worthy throughout. There are no wasted moments and is fast moving, very fun to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Browning's version of the opposite side of the coins on emotions i.e. love and hate, is able to justify both of it thoroughly with unbiased perspective. The Unknown Browning's version of the opposite sides of the coin on emotions i.e. love and hate, is able to justify both of it thoroughly with unbiased perspective. Very few tales justify the agendas or logistics of the antagonist let along narrate through it. This clearly suggests how ahead of time Browning's vision is. And now to have an idea is one thing and to project it on screen is another, and with gripping screenplay and adaptive concept the story enfolds each puzzle layer by layer that puts you in a tight spot before jumping on any conclusion. And it is that parallel track that it chooses to venture that fuels this film to the thrill it possess. Now as far as the triangle love story, that it has weaved, is concerned, there is no doubt on whose side you are supposed to be, but with Chaney's majestic performance, for a brief period he will lure you in, in his webs of lies and deceits. It also has a strong illuminating background story that factors in effectively along with even the props and the backdrop of the set pieces that joins in majorly on the storytelling. Aforementioned, Chaney's performance elevates the film's drama to a whole new level, from being overprotective to be overpowered by obsession and rage. Crawford as the love interest and Kerry as a gullible good boy are convincing enough to drive this melodrama. The primary reason why we fall for Chaney's character, along with his performance, is his hardworking nature and his relationship with his friend that shows us the softer humane side of his. The Unknown would surely be an unknown tale for the audience at that stage, not because of the trajectory that it takes you to but the enthralling procedure that it has for you, it is and will be Chaney's journey.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The most brilliantly perverse film of all time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

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Tod Browning

Director

Lon Chaney

Alonzo

Norman Kerry

Malabar

Joan Crawford

Nanon

Nick De Ruiz

Zanzi

John George

Cojo

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Synopsis

On the run from the law, Alonzo (Lon Chaney) hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder -- a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo actually has the use of his arms but keeps them concealed so that his true identity remains under wraps. Meanwhile, Alonzo falls in love with another performer, Nanon (Joan Crawford), who has a phobia against being touched by a man. But when the circus owner (Nick De Ruiz) discovers Alonzo's true identity, the performer makes a tragic decision.

Director: Tod Browning
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 5m

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