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The Unknown (1927); Tod Browning
Topic Started: Oct 30 2008, 06:00 AM (186 Views)
Stony Brooke da Mesquiteer
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Lon Chaney is Alozo The Armless, a gypsy working with a traveling circus. Joan Crawford is Nanon, a woman Alonzo desires and the circus owner's daughter. Alonzo's portion of the show is shooting a gun and throwing knives at Nanon with his feet. Nanon is disgusted with men because they're always pawing at her and it's no wonder because Joan is a very beautiful in 1927 and I don't think I'd have recognized her if she wasn't in the credits. I looked and looked at her and still couldn't see the Joan I know from the '60s. Anywho, when Nanon is found in Alonzo's wagon, he is beaten by Nanon's father, Antonio, and after Antonio leaves we are treated to A BIG SURPRISE, well the first big surprise. Alonzo kills Antonio outside of Nanon's wagon but the girl doesn't see the killer's face. When the circus leaves town, Alonzo and Nanon stay behind. Is this Alonzo's big chance to have the girl of his dreams? Will Nanon fall for her father's killer?

The film comes in under a brisk 50 minutes and I mean brisk. There isn't a scene that drags during the entire picture. Watching some of the film again with the commentary on I found out that some scenes are missing from the only known print which was found in Paris. When the folks looking for the film went to the Parisian theater there were many untitled films there and they all had "Unknown" written on the tins. The film also has John George in it. A short actor who worked in a few Chaney films, many Browning films and had a cameo in Man Of A Thousand Faces.

Stony's favorite scene: The Big Surprise, although there are many great scenes in the film.

5 outta 5 bong hits. Great actors, great story, great direction. You could say the film is, well, great!
It's like Rodney King used to say, "Can't we all get a bong."
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Laughing Gravy
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One of my favorite Chaney films (perhaps topped only by Hunchback and HE Who Gets Slapped). I know good ol' Mr. Panzer isn't a Chaney fan; I wonder if he's ever seen this one? Michael F. Blake has written a few books about Chaney, and they're amongst the finest Hollywood bios you'll ever read.
"I'm glad that this question came up, because there are so many ways to answer it that one of them is bound to be right." - Robert Benchley
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