Prime Time: The Unknown (1927)

A film that almost feels like a practice run for one of his most notorious titles, Freaks (which would come along five years later), Tod Browning's The Unknown is almost the equal of that better-known horror, thanks in no small part to the excellent performances from Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford. A dark tale of unrequited love, murder, and body modification (yes, body modification), this may be a tad predictable in the third act, but that makes it no less enjoyable.

Lon Chaney plays Alonzo, an armless individual who uses his feet to entertain people with his circus act. He's very skilled with them, being able to throw knives and fire weapons, as well as many other tricks. Alonzo has strong feelings for Nanon (Crawford), the daughter of the circus owner. You'd think that this pairing would be perfect, as Nanon has a fear of men grabbing and pawing at her, so she feels comfortable with the armless Alonzo. Malabar (Norman Kerry) is the circus strongman, and he also has feelings for Nanon, but the fact that he has two strong arms keeps Nanon from reciprocating any feelings toward him. Things change when Nanon's father, Zanzi, is murdered, allowing Alonzo to be a more comforting presence, perhaps even paving the way to their marriage. But one major change will have to happen, because it turns out that Alonzo DOES have arms, and he used those arms to kill Zanzi. A dark secret that is only known to Alonzo and his friend Cojo (John George), a plan is hatched to have his arms removed and live happily ever after with Nanon.

Absolutely incredible stuff from start to finish, and the runtime is under 50 minutes (sadly, the only surviving prints today are missing about a quarter of the footage, although it remains a cohesive and flowing work), The Unknown is a film that any fan of Tod Browning should definitely see ASAP. Despite being released 95 years ago, it is still a disturbing and chilling experience, the dark material complemented by the performances and style. Browning knows the world he is leading us into, and he is working with a superb cast.

Chaney is someone I haven't seen many performances from, despite his reputation, but this must rank up there with one of his best (the only other turn I have seen from him is his brilliant "Phantom" in The Phantom Of The Opera). I'll definitely be looking through more of his filmography soon, and his turn here is a masterclass is how to show every possible thought and emotion via facial expressions. Crawford is the typically sweet and beautiful woman needed for her role, performing well and convincing viewers that she can feel safest when being comforted by Alonzo. Kerry and Nick De Ruiz are both just fine, the latter playing Zanzi, and George is unforgettable in his role, his impact onscreen in inverse correlation to his diminutive 4'2" height.

It might be too melodramatic for some, and there are people who simply won't want to watch a silent movie from almost a century ago, but I rate this as a damn near perfect film. Despite the limitations of the time, it's a powerful blend of love, treachery, and outright horror. Please make some time for it in your viewing schedule, you only need a spare 50 minutes.

9/10

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