The Unknown
Synopsis
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.
The Unknown (1927) is a 1h 8min drama feature film by Tod Browning. On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder – a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Selected for Mayhem Film Festival (2013).
Key facts
Crew
Trailer
Stills
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Festival History
- Weekend of Fear 2026 - Samstag, 16.05. Grosser Saal
- Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival 2024 - Retrospectiva
- Hallucinations Collectives 2018
- Mayhem Film Festival 2013
Titles
| Original title | The Unknown | |
| Alternate title | L'Inconnu |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | United States | May 29, 1927 |
| Theatrical | United States | June 3, 1927 |
| Theatrical | United States | June 4, 1927 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | July 7, 1927 |
| Theatrical | Canada | September 7, 1927 |
| Theatrical | Australia | November 26, 1927 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | December 19, 1927 |
| Theatrical | Italy | April 9, 1928 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | April 20, 1928 |
| Theatrical | Finland | April 23, 1928 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | August 27, 1928 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | February 13, 1929 |
| Theatrical | Japan | March 1, 1929 |
| Theatrical | France | June 19, 2002 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | August 2, 2002 |
| Theatrical | France | September 7, 2010 |
| Theatrical | United States | May 6, 2014 |
| Theatrical | Spain | March 22, 2015 |
| Theatrical | France | April 2, 2018 |
| Classification | United Kingdom | PG |
Versions & editions
| Home video | United Kingdom | October 23, 2023 |
Full credits
| Director | Tod Browning |
| Cast | Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry (Malabar), Joan Crawford (Nanon Zanzi), Nick De Ruiz (Antonio Zanzi), John George (Cojo), Frank Lanning (Costra), Tom Amandares (Gypsy Running to Zanzi's Death Scene (uncredited)), Margaret Bert (Fortune Teller (uncredited)), Louise Emmons (Gypsy Woman (uncredited)), Italia Frandi (Girl in Audience Flirting with Malabar (uncredited)), Venezia Frandi (Woman in Audience (uncredited)), Polly Moran (Landlady / Servant in Audience (uncredited)), Julian Rivero (Man in Theatre Audience (uncredited)), Billy Seay (The Little Wolf (uncredited)), Dorothy Seay (Spectator (uncredited)), John St. Polis (Surgeon (uncredited)) |
| Screenplay | Joseph Farnham, Waldemar Young |
| Story | Tod Browning |
| Producer | Irving Thalberg |
| Cinematography | Merritt B. Gerstad |
| Editing | Errol Taggart, Harry Reynolds |
| Costumes | Lucia Coulter |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
