The Unknown (1927 film)

The Unknown
Directed byTod Browning
Written byJoseph W. Farnham (titles)
Screenplay byWaldemar Young
Story byTod Browning
Produced byIrving G. Thalberg
Starring
CinematographyMerritt B. Gerstad
Edited byHarry Reynolds
Errol Taggart
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • June 4, 1927 (1927-06-04)
Running time
5517 feet (original release)[1]
66 minutes (2022 reconstruction)[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent film
English intertitles
Budget$217,000
Box office$847,000[3]

The Unknown is a 1927 American silent horror film directed by Tod Browning, and starring Lon Chaney as carnival knife thrower "Alonzo the Armless" and Joan Crawford as his beloved carnival girl Nanon. Originally titled Alonzo the Armless, filming took place from February 7 to March 18, 1927 on a $217,000 budget.

The film carried the tagline: "A superb mystery thriller, unusual and startling even for a Chaney film. Lon as "The Unknown" eats, drinks, shoots a rifle and dresses with his feet. Don't miss this startling spectacle!" Stills exist showing Chaney made up as Alonzo the Armless.[4][1][5][6]

  1. ^ a b "The Unknown (1927)". SilentEra.com. Silent Era : Progressive Silent Film List.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference pordenone was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Blake, Michael F. (1998). "The Films of Lon Chaney". Vestal Press Inc. Page 166. ISBN 1-879511-26-6.
  4. ^ "The Unknown (1927)". lonchaney.org.
  5. ^ Image lonchaney.org
  6. ^ Image lonchaney.org