The Unholy 3 (1930)

"Don't step on that spider; it might be Lon Chaney!" Before there was computers and CGI, there was "The Man of 1,000 Faces." By quite often enduring great pain, silent screen great Chaney brought to life such chilling monstrosities as "The Phantom of the Opera," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and the vampire in "London After Midnight." When I was a teen-ager, one of our local stations presented Chaney Sr.'s only talking picture, "The Unholy Three," as part of its 7 a.m. movie slot. I begged my parents for days to let me stay home from school in order to watch it. Well, they did and I soon discovered he was also "The Man of 1,000 Voices" in his portrayal of Echo the ventriloquist, who with the aid of a circus strongman and a baby-faced midget, commits a series of crimes that baffle law enforcement. It was the perfect way to introduce a talking Chaney, whose next role was to be "Dracula" followed by the monster in "Frankenstein." Think of it. Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff might never have become household names. But tragedy struck. Three months later, Chaney died of throat cancer. So this 1930 release is the only evidence of what might have been. The direction by Jack Conway holds up surprisingly welll. The story moves at at fast clip and the characters are well-played. This crime thriller is a must-have for film buffs and horror movie fans alike.

The silent version of The Unholy Three is definitely the better film. The direction in this 1930 version isn't as good, and honestly I couldn't understand a word Harry Earles said. That being said, this definitely isn't a BAD movie, and I recommend watching just because it's Chaney's only talkie. That alone makes it a must-see for fans of early films imo.

This is one strange movie and I mean that in the best possible way. Lon Chaney is in drag for most of the film, Harry Earles is a midget who poses as a baby, and naturally they toss a killer gorilla into the mix just in case it all wasn't odd enough already. Somehow the story still works and manages to avoid being too silly though. Most people cite this as a notable film because it was Chaney's last before he died, however, I think Earles really stole the show playing the cigar-chomping, tough-talking, kid-kicking midget, Tweedledee.

Always, right on time, will add this dvd to my collection.

Chaney,sr.

I love this movie! Being that it's Chaney's only talkie aside and a remake to boot, it's still a wonderful glimpse into the golden age!

enjoyed watching Lon Chaney do "he's thing".

the best Lila Lee movie I've seen as far as seeing her...the story is so, so...great quality print...

i don't hate this remake of the silent version of "the unholy three" but it certainly can't be regarded as being a classic. for one thing, the director hasn't got tod browning's sense of imagination nor his directorial skills for that matter. also, harry earles as the violent midget, is out of his depth as his voice isn't suitable for this type of role. the actor who replaced victor mclagen as the strongman isn't half as good and is just wooden. the same goes for the female lead, she is terrible and not in the same class as mae busch. it is down to lon chaney to carry this film and he does so effortlessly. apart from possessing a natural voice for talkie films, he also displays a gift for mimicry which he puts to excellent use throughout the film. if only he had lived longer, i'm sure lon chaney would have become a force to be reckoned with within the film industry. sadly, it was not to be as he was terminally ill with throat cancer and he passed away at about the time this film was released. i just hope that other lon chaney films make their way onto dvd now that 6 of his vehicles have finally been made available for the first time.

Lon Chaney's only talkie and such a good and interesting film. I'm sure Lon Chaney would've transitioned so well into the talkies. The only thing about this film the fact I couldn't understand a thing Harry Earles (the midget) was saying.

＊本レビューはASIN: B00480OCW0　DVD-DOWNROAD(DVD-R)の商品に上げた物です。　見世物小屋の腹話術師エコー教授（ロン・チェイニー）は、小屋が営業停止と成った為、2 人の同僚、小人のミッジ（ハリー・アールズ）と怪力ヘラクレス（イヴァン・ライノウ）をスカウト、スリのロージー（ライラ・リー）と共に悪事に手を染める事に。　エコーは善良な老婦人に変装しペットショップを経営、金満家の婦人に得意の腹話術を駆使して喋らないオウムを売りつけ、苦情を受けると乳児に成済ましたミッジを連れて訪問、腹話術で回復したかの様に見せ掛けると共に盗みの下調べをし、後日実行していたのだ。　1925に同じくMGMで製作された同名サイレント作を5年後にトーキーで、監督をオリジナルのトッド・ブラウニングからジャック・コンウェイ（「奇傑パンチョ」「ブーム・タウン」）に代えてリメイクした作品です。　本作が最初で最後のトーキー主演となったチェイニーの腹話術と女性声は、そちらの面でも『千の声を持つ男』と呼ばれる資格充分ですが、チェイニー以上の存在感を見せるのはどう見ても乳幼児にしか見えないハリー・アールズ（「フリークス」「オズの魔法使い」）の邪悪な赤ちゃん振り。　現在は先ず見る事が出来ない怪優です。　前作で怪力男を演じた名優ヴィクター・マクラグレンは契約の為出演が敵わず、代りに田中将大投手に似たラトヴィア出身の巨漢ライノウがヘラクレスを演じて居ます。　実は未見のサイレント作の方が評価の高いのですが、本作には1930-50年代にハリウッドの類人猿スーツ製作&アクターとして無比の存在だったチャーリー・ジェモラのゴリラも出てきて好事家には堪りません。　結末はオリジナルとは改変されているとの事。　他にちゃっかりしたスリのロージー役にエキゾチックな妖婦女優のライラ・リー（「血と砂」「殺人街」）、お人よしのへクター青年には監督としても知られているエリオット・ニュージェント（ダニー・ケイの新兵さん）「ロイドのエジプト博士」）も出演。　本ディスクはオンデマンド方式のDVD-Rで、10分毎にチャプターが切ってある以外は特典等無し。　映像音声はフィルムの細かい傷は有る物の、トーキー移行直後の古い作品とすれば許容範囲。　白黒の諧調は比較的良いですが、耐久性が心配です。　ロン・チェイニーやカルト映画｢フリークス｣より刺激が少ない見世物小屋物をご希望の方にはお薦めです。