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The Unknown
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The Unknown (1927)

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User Rating: 7.9/10 (1,553 votes)
Photos (see all 2 | slideshow)

Overview

Director:
Tod Browning
Writers:
Tod Browning (story)
Waldemar Young (scenario)
more
Release Date:
4 June 1927 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Horror | Romance more
Plot:
Alonzo is an apparently armless knife thrower who uses his feet to encircle Estrellita with blades.... more | add synopsis
Awards:
2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
The Man Who Laughs (1928) / The Dark Knight (2008) (From Twitch. 18 July 2008, 2:25 PM, PDT)
2008 SFSFF13—Review of The Unknown (From Twitch. 16 July 2008, 3:07 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Thumbs Up! more

Cast

 (Complete credited cast)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Alonzo the Armless (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
63 min (23 fps) | UK:49 min (BFI print) | USA:49 min (alternate version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Silent
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 11% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
For many years this film only existed in murky 9.5mm dupes on the black market. In March 1973, at a screening of this film at George Eastman House, archivist James Card said that Henri Langlois and his staff at the Cinematheque Francais discovered a copy of it in 1968 among other miscellaneous cans of film marked "l'inconnu" (films "unknown" due to missing titles, etc.). more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Alonzo and Cojo are drinking wine, the glass suddenly fills between shots. more
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.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Femme d'à côté, La (1981) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful:-
Thumbs Up!, 1 April 2005
8/10
Author: Gary170459 from Derby, UK

I give this one 8/10 simply for uniqueness. It's not a horror film, but if you can follow and swallow it The Unknown certainly is an unsettling experience. I don't think anyone has spoiled it yet for the unwary so for an explanation of why, the best thing to do is watch it! Suffice to report it's a tale of twisted love and the lengths a man's passion goes to ... to get his hands on the woman. Alonzo didn't understand women however!

Tod Browning sailed close to the edge as usual, and Lon Chaney put in a fine performance as a murderer on the run - I presume he was, from extrapolation of events in the 47 minute TCM UK TV version. Joan Crawford looked very pretty, before Hollywood really got hold of her and uglified her.

There's obviously many bits missing from this print, but by paying attention it's fairly straightforward to understand. I think it's worth it too, especially if you like silent films as I do. The scenes photographed through gauze were striking, but what was that all about?! Overall, different and slightly depressing - is the moral we men are all so desperate when infatuated with a woman?

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I saw it on TCM last night... drdebacle
Anyone know wher e i can buy this? homeofleia
masterpiece masterpiece masterpiece rflock
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