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The Unknown

"Don't miss this startling spectacle!"

1927-05-29 Drama 1hr 8m

On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder – a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo keeps the arms he really has concealed to hide his identity. Meanwhile, ringmaster's daughter Nanon has a phobia of being touched by men, but is romantically pursued by not only Alonzo but the strongman Malabar. Alonzo's desperation to remain with Nanon will only end in tragedy.

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Criterion Channel

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The Unknown
Criterion Channel

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Storyline

On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder – a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo keeps the arms he really has concealed to hide his identity. Meanwhile, ringmaster's daughter Nanon has a phobia of being touched by men, but is romantically pursued by not only Alonzo but the strongman Malabar. Alonzo's desperation to remain with Nanon will only end in tragedy.

  • Released
    1927-05-29
  • Revenue
    n/a
  • Budget
    $217,000
  • Runtime
    1hr 8m
  • Genre
    Drama, Romance, Horror
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    No Language
  • imdb-logo
    7.7
  • Production
    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Crew

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9 Songs

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Cast

Joan Crawford

Joan Crawford

Nanon Zanzi
Nick De Ruiz

Nick De Ruiz

Antonio Zanzi
Tom Amandares

Tom Amandares

Gypsy Running to Zanzi's Death Scene (uncredited)
Margaret Bert

Margaret Bert

Fortune Teller (uncredited)
Louise Emmons

Louise Emmons

Gypsy Woman (uncredited)
Italia Frandi

Italia Frandi

Girl in Audience Flirting with Malabar (uncredited)
Venezia Frandi

Venezia Frandi

Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Polly Moran

Polly Moran

Landlady / Servant in Audience (uncredited)
Julian Rivero

Julian Rivero

Man in Theatre Audience (uncredited)
Billy Seay

Billy Seay

The Little Wolf (uncredited)
Dorothy Seay

Dorothy Seay

Spectator (uncredited)
John St. Polis

John St. Polis

Surgeon (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

The Unknown
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Movie Reviews

Reviews for The Unknown
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-03-27

Joan Crawford is the dazzling "Manon", daughter of a circus owner and keenly sought by strongman "Malabar" (Norman Kerry) and the newly arri... read more

Joan Crawford is the dazzling "Manon", daughter of a circus owner and keenly sought by strongman "Malabar" (Norman Kerry) and the newly arrived arm-less knife thrower "Alonzo" (Lon Chaney). It's the latter man who has a bit of a secret though, and as the story progresses we realise that he's a criminal using a clever (if not desperately plausible) disguise to stay one head ahead of the pursuing police. She, meantime, is fed up being pawed and ogled at by men in general and "Alonzo" - being unable to touch her, plays on that increasing phobia hoping she will choose him. Her father "Zanzi" (Nick De Ruiz) violently comes a cropper suddenly and his daughter sees the crime, not the criminal. Distraught, she turns to "Malabar" whilst "Alonzo" decides that he must now make a pretty significant sacrifice if he is to get the girl and avoid the noose. I did really quite enjoy this. The expressive Chaney is on super form as the menacing knifester and there is plenty of meat on the bones of a plot that creates a few characters about whom you could actually care. The denouement with the strongman and horses is maybe a little strung out, but it's still a fitting end to a love triangle that dwells little on slushy sentiment and more on the nastiness of the scheming antagonist and his sidekick "Cojo" (John George). Crawford certainly comes across as a woman they'd want to fight over, too!

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by CinemaSerf

Joan Crawford is the dazzling "Manon", daughter of a circus owner and keenly sought by strongman "Malabar" (Norman Kerry) and the newly arrived arm-less knife thrower "Alonzo" (Lon Chaney). It's the latter man who has a bit of a secret thou...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 7

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-03-27

Joan Crawford is the dazzling "Manon", daughter of a circus owner and keenly sought by strongman "Malabar" (Norman Kerry) and the newly arrived arm-less knife thrower "Alonzo" (Lon Chaney). It's the l...

read more