IMDb RATING
6.7/10
1.4K
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"Talkie" remake of Tod Browning's 1925 silent film. A trio of former sideshow performers double as the "Unholy Three" in a scam to nab some shiny rocks."Talkie" remake of Tod Browning's 1925 silent film. A trio of former sideshow performers double as the "Unholy Three" in a scam to nab some shiny rocks."Talkie" remake of Tod Browning's 1925 silent film. A trio of former sideshow performers double as the "Unholy Three" in a scam to nab some shiny rocks.
Jack Baxley
- Outside Sideshow Barker
- (uncredited)
Sidney Bracey
- Arlington's Butler
- (uncredited)
Richard Carle
- Sideshow Barker
- (uncredited)
Ray Cooke
- Sailor at Sideshow
- (uncredited)
De Garo
- Fire Eater
- (uncredited)
Dot Farley
- Woman Buying Parrot
- (uncredited)
Charles Gemora
- Gorilla
- (uncredited)
Joseph W. Girard
- The Judge
- (uncredited)
Armand Kaliz
- Jeweler
- (uncredited)
Fred Kelsey
- Detective at Train
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaKnown as "The Man of 1000 Faces", Chaney signed a legal affidavit declaring all the voices he performed in this, his only talking film, were actually his own. Thus, in addition to multiple characters, he performed multiple voices.
- GoofsWhen the defense lawyer is about to request a postponement, he first addresses the judge by saying, "your honor". There is then a cut to a close-up of the judge looking at the defense attorney, then at the prosecutor as if he is listening to them talking. However, during the entire close-up no one is talking. Apparently the shot was meant to be a cutaway, but it was mistakenly used without audio.
- Quotes
Rosie O'Grady: [Both are laughing] Why, I... I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
[She laughs again and so does he]
Professor Echo, aka Mrs. 'Grandma' O'Grady: Well, why - why not do a little of both? You know the old gag. That's all there is to life. A little laughter... a little tear.
- Alternate versionsAn alternate ending was shot but never released. Closer to the original silent version, it has Echo telling Rosie to go to Hector at the carnival after he makes a full confession in the court.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000)
- SoundtracksIntroduction to Salammbô
(1920) (uncredited)
Music by Andrei Fedorov Arends
Featured review
Lon Chaney: "The Man of a Thousand Voices"?
"The Unholy Three" was the last film made by the great Lon Chaney -- and the only talking film which he completed before his untimely death at age 47. Chaney is nothing less than marvelous as "Echo", the sideshow ventriloquist who forms a criminal collaboration with a midget (Harry Earles) and a strongman (Ivan Linow).
After fleeing a carnival bust, this threesome sets up a burglary ring with Echo also posing as an old lady pet shop owner. The gang also recruits Rosie (Lila Lee) as the sexy "granddaughter". This front works well enough for the gang until one of Rosie's suitors (Elliott Nugent) naively and innocently undermines the gang's unity.
This is a very enjoyable film, which has nice comic touches and some racy, pre-Code dialougue. The best scenes involve "Grandma" (Chaney in drag is a hoot!) fighting with the gang as the old lady. Other priceless scenes include "Baby" (Earles) casing a wealthy home ("pretty beads...) and where the gang eludes the police inspector watching Baby play around the Christmas tree ("my cow, gimme my cow!...). Very funny stuff.
This film is highly recommended to all film buffs -- and in particular, to fans of Lon Chaney. The real pleasure of course, is Chaney, who adds several vocal textures to his already incredible repertoire. He not only is the voice of Echo, but also "Grandma", a sideshow dummy, and a parrot! It is indeed a shame that we could not have had more from this incredible talent ...
After fleeing a carnival bust, this threesome sets up a burglary ring with Echo also posing as an old lady pet shop owner. The gang also recruits Rosie (Lila Lee) as the sexy "granddaughter". This front works well enough for the gang until one of Rosie's suitors (Elliott Nugent) naively and innocently undermines the gang's unity.
This is a very enjoyable film, which has nice comic touches and some racy, pre-Code dialougue. The best scenes involve "Grandma" (Chaney in drag is a hoot!) fighting with the gang as the old lady. Other priceless scenes include "Baby" (Earles) casing a wealthy home ("pretty beads...) and where the gang eludes the police inspector watching Baby play around the Christmas tree ("my cow, gimme my cow!...). Very funny stuff.
This film is highly recommended to all film buffs -- and in particular, to fans of Lon Chaney. The real pleasure of course, is Chaney, who adds several vocal textures to his already incredible repertoire. He not only is the voice of Echo, but also "Grandma", a sideshow dummy, and a parrot! It is indeed a shame that we could not have had more from this incredible talent ...
helpful•60
- Namista
- Dec 11, 1998
- How long is The Unholy Three?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- El trío fantástico
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 12 minutes
- Color
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