The Unholy 3

THE UNHOLY 3-1925-This was the first collaboration between actor Lon Chaney and director Tod Browning for MGM. (Their previous films had been for Universal). It's the story of three circus performers who decide to turn to crime. 

Their leader is Echo (Chaney), a ventriloquist who disguises himself as an old woman. Harry Earles (Hans in 1932's FREAKS, also directed by Browning) is Tweedledee, a sadistic little person who pretends to be a baby! Future Oscar winner Victor McLaglen is Hercules the strongman who's more subservient to Tweedle than Echo. They set up shop in a store that sells birds (where Echo's skills make the parrots talk a lot!). Mae Busch is Rosie, the con woman in on their act. 

It's unusual but cool the way Browning gets across the ventriloquism scam considering this is silent film!

By coincidence every time the store sells a bird, the residence they sell to is robbed. Unfortunately, things don't turn out so good. Tweedledee and Hercules don't like being "bossed" by Echo and Hector, the store manager falls for Rosie, making Echo jealous. When Echo is delayed in going out on a job the duo goes out on their own and a man is killed. They decide to pin the murder/robbery on Hector but Rosie doesn't like it. They tie her up and decide to lam it with a bound Rosie in tow and a mean looking ape that they just have to happen in the store (Echo wants to take it because it's stronger than Hercules). The gang hides out in a cabin while Hector is left to fend for himself against the trumped-up charges. Animosity grows in the hideout. 

Meanwhile Rosie tells Echo if he helps vindicate Hector, she will stay with him forever (in spite of the fact she's in love with Hector). He goes to the courtroom and after some ventriloquism tricks fail, he admits his guilt in front of the judge. While this is going on, back in the cabin Tweedledee overhears Hercules tell Rosie they could split the stolen loot 2 ways. The little guy releases the angry ape. It goes after the strongman who kills Tweedledee right before he's done in by the ape! Echo's confession exonerates both him and Hector and Echo releases Rosie from their bargain so she can be the one she loves. 

THE UNHOLY 3 once again proves Lon Chaney's prominence as the greatest silent screen actor of all time. Without the use of make-up, he conveys the tone of the story with facial expressions alone. It's an incredible sight to witness which once again makes the usual love triangle (a mainstay of so many Chaney films) plausible and heartfelt. The screenplay is by Waldemar Young (who wrote several other Chaney/Browning vehicles like THE BLACKBIRD, LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT and WEST OF ZANZIBAR). It's based on a story by Tod Robbins, who also wrote the story that became the infamous FREAKS.

So popular and successful MGM chose to remake this in 1930 as Chaney's first talkie (and ultimately his last film) although Browning did not direct it. 

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