The Unknown | 1927 | Horror, Drama

Title: The Unknown | 1927 | Horror, Drama Director: Tod Browning Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Starring: Lon Chaney, Joan Crawford, Norman Kerry Based on: Original story by Tod Browning Release Date: June 4, 1927 Runtime: 67 Format: Silent, black-and-white, 1.33:1; English intertitles Country: United States Language: Silent Genres: Horror, Drama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Circus arrival and the armless wonder 00:12:00 Nanon’s fear of embraces 00:25:00 Alonzo’s secret and plot 00:40:00 The irreversible operation 00:55:00 Final stunt and reckoning --- Summary: At a Madrid circus, criminal fugitive Alonzo hides his identity by performing as an armless knife thrower, binding his real arms and using his feet for feats of dexterity. He falls in love with his assistant Nanon, who recoils from men’s arms and finds comfort in Alonzo’s apparent disability, while strongman Malabar becomes his rival. Driven by obsession, Alonzo takes a drastic step to win Nanon, only to return and discover her fears have faded. His jealousy culminates in a deadly scheme during a dangerous stunt. The film explores deception, bodily sacrifice, and fixation, culminating in a Grand Guignol finale. --- Background: Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and directed by Tod Browning, the film was originally titled Armless Alonzo and scripted by Waldemar Young from Browning’s story, with titles by Joseph W. Farnham. Long believed lost, it was rediscovered in 1968 at the Cinémathèque française; a 2022 restoration incorporating footage from a Czech nitrate print expanded the film to roughly its full length. The role marked a notable early performance for Joan Crawford opposite Lon Chaney, one of Browning’s key collaborators. --- Trivia: The film’s working title was Armless Alonzo, reflecting its sideshow premise. For close shots of dexterous feats, Chaney was doubled by Paul Desmuke, an armless performer who used his feet to manipulate objects. The picture was considered lost for decades until a 35mm print surfaced at the Cinémathèque française in 1968, delayed in part by many film cans labeled “l’inconnu” . A 2022 restoration premiered at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival, reconstructing missing scenes and bringing the runtime to about 66–67 minutes. A Criterion Collection release in 2023 presented the restoration at 1.33:1 with English intertitles. Contemporary records report a production budget of approximately $217,000 and worldwide grosses of about $847,000. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: June 4, 1927 Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: TheUnknown 1927 PublicDomain SilentFilm LonChaney JoanCrawford TodBrowning Horror ClassicCinema MGM Source page: https: //commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Unknown_(1927).webm Direct media URL: https: //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/The_Unknown_%281927%29.webm