Do you want to see ‘The Unknown’?

The Unknown (1927)

tomatometer

All Critics
Top Critics

100

Average Rating: 9.1/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 0

No consensus yet.

No Reviews Yet...

Release Date: Jun 4, 1927 Wide

audience

liked it
Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 1,597

My Rating

Added to your Facebook Timeline. — undo

Movie Info

As a group, the silent-movie collaborations between director Tod Browning and star Lon Chaney hardly represent the best work of either man, though each film definitely has its moments. One of the best, and weirdest, of the batch is The Unknown. Chaney plays a carnival performer known as the "Armless Wonder," who performs near-miraculous stunts with his bare feet. In fact, he is in possession of both his arms, but keeps them strapped to his side to maintain the illusion of being limbless.

Unrated, 1 hr.

Drama, Horror, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Classics

Directed By: Tod Browning

Written By: Tod Browning, Waldemar Young

In Theaters: Jun 4, 1927 Wide

Cast

Lon Chaney
Alonzo
Norman Kerry
Malabor
Joan Crawford
Estrellita
Nick De Ruiz
Zanzi
John George
Cojo
Frank Lanning
Costra
Polly Moran
Landlady
John St. Polis
Billy Seay
The Little Wolf

Critic Reviews for The Unknown

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (0) | DVD (4)

Tod Browning's rousing, cruel joke on the mutilated artiste and the frigid muse

October 26, 2010 Full Review Source: CinePassion

| Comment

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

It may not be Browning's best silent film, but it is certainly his most fascinatingly perverse -- and that's saying something in the world of Tod Browning.

October 18, 2006 Full Review Source: Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

| Comment

Ken Hanke

Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

[An] astonishing masterpiece.

August 12, 2006 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Not a second of its brief 50-minute running time is wasted.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Goatdog's Movies

| Comment

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies Source: Goatdog's Movies

It was the last of the great silent films, as just 4 months later the first talkie opened: The Jazz Singer.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Unknown

View All

A brilliant love story, I loved it, I just wish it were a bit longer, but other than that, it's perfect. It's a love story about obsession, lies, and murder. And the climactic scene towards the end was riveting. And Lon Cheney is fantastic as a 'one armed' man. I highly recommend this movie.

May 20, 2011

AJ Verser

Super Reviewer

wow. tod browning was one twisted fuck. this is like a precursor to freaks, with joan crawford when she was still cute and a standout performance by lon chaney. one of the stranger films you'll ever see

October 26, 2008

Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

The Unknown Quotes

View All

No quotes approved yet for The Unknown. Logged in users can submit quotes.

Character	Quote
	Enter quote here...	Delete

Movies

Opening

58%	Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (in 3D)	Feb 10
28%	The Vow	Feb 10
53%	Safe House	Feb 10

More…

Top Box Office

85%	Chronicle	$22.0M
64%	The Woman in Black	$20.9M
77%	The Grey	$9.3M
72%	Big Miracle	$7.8M
29%	Underworld Awakening	$5.5M
2%	One for the Money	$5.2M
36%	Red Tails	$4.7M
90%	The Descendants	$4.6M
32%	Man on a Ledge	$4.4M
45%	Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close	$3.8M