The Unknown
Don't miss this startling spectacle!
Country
Production
Budget
$217 000
Revenue
$847 000
Director
Actors
Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Joan Crawford, Nick De Ruiz, John George, Frank Lanning, Tom Amandares, Margaret Bert, Louise Emmons, Italia Frandi
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Producer
Operator
Composer
Artist
Audition
Editing
Harry Reynolds, Errol Taggart
All team (16)
All team (16)
Short description
On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder—a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo keeps the arms he really has concealed to hide his identity. Meanwhile, ringmaster's daughter Nanon has a phobia of being touched by men, but is romantically pursued by not only Alonzo but the strongman Malabar. Alonzo's desperation to remain with Nanon will only end in tragedy.
What's left behind the scenes
- For a long time, the film was considered lost, but in 1968 a complete professional film copy was discovered in the archives of the French Cinémathèque.
- The director and screenwriter Tod Browning (1880-1962) based the plot on a story from his own circus past, about a man who pretended to be an acrobat to hide from the police.
- Paul Desmuke (1876-1949) was born without arms, and in some scenes he acted as Lon Chaney's stunt double (particularly in scenes where he smoked or played the violin).
- Joan Crawford (1905-1977) always considered the film "Unknown" a turning point in her acting career. According to her, it was only while working with Lon Chaney (1883-1937) on this film that she understood the difference between simply being in front of the camera and acting for the camera. She later claimed that it was Chaney and his incredible ability to focus who helped her realize this.
- Director and screenwriter Tod Browning (1880-1962) based the plot on a story from his own circus past, involving a man who pretended to be an acrobat to hide from the police.
- Joan Crawford (1905-1977) always referred to the film 'The Unknown' as a turning point in her acting career. According to her, it was only while working with Lon Chaney (1883-1937) on this film that she managed to understand the difference between simply being in front of the camera and actually acting for the camera. As she later claimed, it was Chaney and his incredible ability to concentrate who helped her realize this.
- Paul Desmuke (1876-1949) was born without arms; in some scenes, he served as Lon Chaney's double (specifically in scenes where he smoked or played the violin).
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Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
