The Unknown
“Don't miss this startling spectacle!”
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.
Where to watch
TCM
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Free with ads
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Cast
16 people
Lon Chaney
Alonzo
Known for
The Phantom of the Opera
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Norman Kerry
Malabar
Known for
The Phantom of the Opera
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Joan Crawford
Nanon Zanzi
Known for
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Johnny Guitar
Nick De Ruiz
Antonio Zanzi
Known for
The Hunchback of Notre Dame
John George
Cojo
Known for
The Mark of Zorro
Frank Lanning
Costra
Known for
The Kid Brother
Tom Amandares
Gypsy Running to Zanzi's Death Scene (uncredited)
Margaret Bert
Fortune Teller (uncredited)
Also in
Who's Superstitious?
1-2-3-Go!
Louise Emmons
Gypsy Woman (uncredited)
Known for
Foolish Wives
True Heart Susie
Italia Frandi
Girl in Audience Flirting with Malabar (uncredited)
Also in
The Loves of Carmen
The Redeeming Sin
Venezia Frandi
Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Also in
The Loves of Carmen
The Redeeming Sin
Polly Moran
Landlady / Servant in Audience (uncredited)
Known for
Adam's Rib
Show People
Tod Browning Director · Waldemar Young Screenplay Joseph Farnham Writer
Worldwide gross $847K · Budget $217K · United States release May 29, 1927
Box office
Budget
$217,000
Worldwide gross
$847,000
Gross vs. budget
3.9×
Production
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production · Studio
United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
English · No dialogue
Release dates
United States · May 29, 1927
Limited theatrical · Springfield, Missouri
United States
June 3, 1927 · Limited theatrical · Los Angeles, California
June 4, 1927 · Theatrical
May 6, 2014 · Limited theatrical · San Francisco International Film Festival
Australia
November 26, 1927 · Theatrical
Brazil
December 19, 1927 · Theatrical
Canada
September 7, 1927 · Theatrical
Denmark
April 20, 1928 · Theatrical
Finland
April 23, 1928 · Theatrical
France
June 19, 2002 · Limited theatrical · Re-release
September 7, 2010 · Limited theatrical · L'Éstrange Festival
April 2, 2018 · Limited theatrical · Lyon Festival Hallucinations Collectives
Italy
April 9, 1928 · Theatrical
Japan
March 1, 1929 · Theatrical
Portugal
February 13, 1929 · Theatrical
Spain
March 22, 2015 · Limited theatrical · Madrid - Artistic Metropol, subtitles provided
United Kingdom
July 7, 1927 · Limited theatrical · Rated A, London
August 27, 1928 · Theatrical · Rated A
August 2, 2002 · Theatrical · Re-release
October 23, 2023 · Physical · DVD
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Some details come from TheTVDB.