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Lon Chaney, Mae Busch, Matt Moore, Victor McLaglen, Harry Earles ... see more see more... , Matthew Betz , Walter Perry , John Merkyl , Percy Williams , Marjorie Morton , Edward Connelly , William Humphreys , Violet Cane , Mickey McBan , Harvey Parry , E. Alyn Warren , Charles Wellesley , John Millerta

Although Lon Chaney and director Tod Browning had made a couple of films together earlier in their careers, this unique melodrama marked the beginning of a string of chilling, macabre silent films, wh... read more read more...ich included West of Zanzibar, The Unknown, and The Black Bird. Chaney is Echo, a sideshow ventriloquist. He cooks up a scam with two other members of the sideshow -- Hercules, the strong man (Victor McLaglen), and Tweedledee, a midget (Harry Earles). The three of them open up a bird store full of parrots that have impressive vocabularies -- but only when Echo, dressed as proprietress Granny O'Grady, is around. When the buyer takes the bird home and it won't talk, Granny comes around with a baby (Tweedledee in swaddling clothes). While "Granny" (using his powers of ventriloquism) coaxes the parrot into speaking, the midget cases the joint to see if there's anything worth robbing later. Trouble comes when they hire Hector, a simple soul (Matt Moore), as a clerk. Echo's pickpocket sweetheart, Rosie (Mae Busch) falls in love with him. Meanwhile, Hercules and Tweedledee murder a man while they're in the midst of one of their robberies. Hector is arrested for the crime while the others flee. To save Hector, Rosie finally agrees to give him up if Echo saves him. By throwing his voice, Echo makes Hector appear to give testimony which frees him. When Rosie goes to Echo, however, he sends her back to Hector, while he returns to the side show. His two cohorts meet their end when they run afoul of Echo's pet gorilla. This hugely successful film was remade as Chaney's first -- and last -- talkie. Harry Earles (who might also be remembered from his starring role in Freaks) reprises his role as Tweedledee. ~ Janiss Garza, Rovi

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83% liked it

690 ratings

Critics

83% liked it

6 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 10 min.

Directed by: Tod Browning

Release Date: August 16, 1925

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Flixster Reviews (58)

  • webalina
    October 12, 2009
    webalina
    Another good turn from Lon Chaney. He plays a side show ventriloquist (in a silent movie!?!?) who, along with Hercules the Strong Man (Victor McLaglen) and Tweedledee the Smallest Man (Harry Earles), call themselves the Unholy Three and are burglars. The remake talkie from 1930 i... read mores very similar, and they both have their merits. But the last scene of this silent version pushes it slightly over the other for me. Very moving, and shows how little Chaney had to do to get a point across. This films gets an extra 1/2 star just for that few seconds of film.
  • rubystevens
    October 12, 2009
    rubystevens
    tod browning, king of the freaks. better than the remake by jack conway from 1930, which is mostly notable for being lon chaney's only talkie
  • BlackRichie
    December 4, 2011
    BlackRichie
    Tod Browning and Lon Chaney brings the start of dark drama to the big screen in 1925's "The Unholy Three". A lot of the films they've made together mostly sets an example on the gritty revenge and how nothing will turn out right. Lon Chaney is one of the most interesting actors t... read morehat I've seen, having a somewhat destined life of a silent actor, and that being said because of his parents being deaf, and having to cope with expressing his feelings to them. Same with Browning as well, for joining the circus as a kid may of started his career of directing his freakishly perfect movie.

    Lon stars as Professor Echo, a sideshow ventriloquist who plans a scheme with his associates, Hercules (Victor McLaglen), and Tweedledee (Harry Earles), to disguise as an old woman and open up a bird shop, selling "talking" birds (Echo using ventriloquism to talk for them). But when a customer calls them in for a problem with the bird, they find out that this is the perfect place to do their crime. But before that, they hire a young and innocent man named Hector to take care of the shop, and the main reason is to accuse him for the crime.

    This film is just too much for its time, I really didn't know what to say after. I'll be surprised if this silent film did not interest you, because it sure did for me. This definitely changed my perspective on film from the past and present, I cant wait to see his other work.
  • Elentari948
    January 18, 2009
    Elentari948
    The film is definitely dated but I liked it anyway. Predictable, yes, but I enjoyed Echo's talents in and out of the pet store.
  • Hexenkult
    March 15, 2008
    Hexenkult
    Another superb performance by Lon Chaney as ventriloquist Professor Echo and in a dual role as Mrs. Granny O'Grady
  • Glinda
    September 18, 2007
    Glinda
    Victor McLaglen is SO young is this one. PS - Lon Chaney truly was the man of 1000 faces. I stepped out of the room at one point and when I came back I didn't realize he was in disguise; I thought there was just a new character in the story.

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Critic Reviews

Mordaunt Hall
June 10, 2009
Mordaunt Hall, New York Times

After viewing this production the figures that have passed upon the screen still cling to one's mind, and one feels like talking about the strange and unusual tale. Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 10, 2009
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Browning's obsession with deformity, sexual aberration, and death yielded many great moments but few wholly satisfying films -- up until his masterpiece of 1932, Freaks. Full Review

June 10, 2009
Film4

As the dynamics of the odd trio change, the macabre observations and remarkable visuals are expertly handled, making this a much-under-rated silent. Full Review

June 10, 2009
TV Guide's Movie Guide

It is one of Lon Chaney's best movies and biggest hits, about a trio of sideshow "freaks" who become criminals to get revenge on "normal" society. Full Review

Tom Milne
June 10, 2009
Tom Milne, Time Out

There is many a pleasing frisson to be had from the weird family circle formed by three carnival refugees. Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson
June 10, 2009
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid

This silent-era Tod Browning classic, starring his favorite actor Lon Chaney, is one of his best, although it's not specifically a horror film. Full Review

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