IMDb RATING
7.1/10
2.4K
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A sideshow ventriloquist, a midget, and a strongman form a conspiracy known as "The Unholy Three" and commit a series of robberies.A sideshow ventriloquist, a midget, and a strongman form a conspiracy known as "The Unholy Three" and commit a series of robberies.A sideshow ventriloquist, a midget, and a strongman form a conspiracy known as "The Unholy Three" and commit a series of robberies.
- Awards
- 3 wins total
William Humphrey
- Attorney for the Defense
- (as William Humphreys)
E. Alyn Warren
- Prosecuting Attorney
- (as A.E. Warren)
Margie Angus
- Twin
- (uncredited)
Mary Angus
- Twin
- (uncredited)
Violet N. Cane
- Arlington Daughter in Photo
- (uncredited)
Walter P. Cole
- Human Skeleton
- (uncredited)
D'Arcy Corrigan
- Court Jury Member
- (uncredited)
Carrie Daumery
- Pet Shop Customer
- (uncredited)
Delno Fritz
- Sword Swallower
- (uncredited)
Alice Julian
- Fat Lady
- (uncredited)
Peter Kortes
- Sword Swallower
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the scene where Echo and company are fleeing the pet store, Echo decides to take his pet ape with them. The "ape" was actually a three-foot-tall chimp who was made to appear gigantic with camera trickery, a specially built smaller-scale set to make it look bigger, and perspective shots. When Echo removes the ape from his cage, the shot shows Echo (with his back turned to the camera) unlocking the cage and walking the ape to the truck. The ape appears to be roughly the same size as Echo. This effect was achieved by having dwarf actor Harry Earles (who played "Tweedledee" in the film) play Echo for these brief shots, and then cutting to the normal-sized Lon Chaney, making it seem as though the ape is gigantic.
- GoofsThe Ape at the pet store is clearly a chimpanzee, but it is depicted as larger than a real chimpanzee can grow.
- Quotes
Professor Echo, the ventriloquist, aka Mrs. 'Granny' O'Grady: [to the sideshow crowd] That's all there is to life, friends - a little laughter... a little tear...
- Alternate versionsTurner Classic Movies showed an 86-minute version with a music and sound effects that was recorded in the 1970s by MGM from a stock music library for syndication. The tints for this edition are incorrect.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Lon Chaney: A Thousand Faces (2000)
Featured review
A great film...period. Lon Chaney heads a group of three thieves/carnival performers as they masquerade as an old woman, a man, and a baby in a pet shop where they sell birds that talk only by ventriloquism. Once the owners get home they see the birds no longer talk and the thieves are invited into their opulent homes. Tod Browning, the director of Dracula, does a marvelous job with this film. There are scenes that are just fantastic, the best of which for me is the courtroom scene. Browning gets a lot of help, however, by some real good performances. Chaney turns in a complex performance of a ventriloquist in love, yet evil, yet with some slight conscience. The scene in the courtroom where he deliberates helping Hector is acting at its best. Throw in a great job by Mae Busch and little Harry Earles as a cigar-smoking midget disguised as a baby. The silent film is a lost art only in that we no longer view it, talk about it, review it like it should. This film and the performances within should be seen not heard.
- BaronBl00d
- Apr 4, 2001
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- El trío fantástico
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $103,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 26 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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