{"id":1880,"date":"2006-12-03T13:57:39","date_gmt":"2006-12-03T20:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1880"},"modified":"2021-01-26T01:29:49","modified_gmt":"2021-01-26T08:29:49","slug":"unholy-three-the-1925","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1880","title":{"rendered":"Unholy Three, The (1925)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There was an old woman who was a man, and two others &#8212; the Unholy Three.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Poster-192x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Poster-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Poster-82x128.jpg 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Poster.jpg 484w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nThree sideshow performers &#8212; Echo the ventriloquist (Lon Chaney, Sr.), Hercules the strongman (Victor McLaglen), and midget Tweedledee (Harry Earles) &#8212; team up as con artists, calling themselves &#8220;The Unholy Three&#8221;.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Con Artists<\/li>\n<li>Falsely Accused<\/li>\n<li>Lon Chaney, Sr. Films<\/li>\n<li>Silent Films<\/li>\n<li>Thieves<\/li>\n<li>Tod Browning Films<\/li>\n<li>Ventriloquism<\/li>\n<li>Victor McLaglen Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review:<\/strong><br \/>\nThis silent thriller &#8212; remade as a talkie in 1930, starring Lon Chaney, Sr. in his final role &#8212; is primarily known today as Tod Browning&#8217;s thematic precursor to <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1845\"><em>Freaks<\/em> (1932)<\/a>. Both star midget Harry Earles; both feature a strongman named Hercules; and both deal with sideshow performers who decide to take revenge on &#8220;normal&#8221; society. Beyond these surface similarities, however, the films differ quite a bit: while <em>Freaks<\/em> celebrated its circus misfits as a collective group who were content as long as they were respected, <em>The Unholy Three<\/em> presents the performers as exploited and dissatisfied, eager to use their skills or differences for criminal gain. <\/p>\n<p>While it&#8217;s not an entirely successful film, there is much to recommend about <em>The Unholy Three<\/em>: Earles is particularly creepy here (and more effective than in <em>Freaks<\/em>) as a twenty-year-old man who can easily pass as a squalling baby; and Lon Chaney turns in yet another stellar performance as both Echo and the stoop-backed, bespectacled &#8220;Granny O&#8217;Grady&#8221;. Unfortunately, however, some major flaws detract from the film&#8217;s overall impact. While the trio&#8217;s decision to open a parrot shop is a clever play on Echo&#8217;s ventriloquism skills, it&#8217;s ultimately a silly and contrived way to go about scamming money. In addition, meek shop assistant Hector (Matt Moore) plays an essential part in the film&#8217;s plot, yet his presence in the parrot shop doesn&#8217;t make logical sense. Finally, a giant chimpanzee emerges for no good reason at the end of the film, other than to kill a key character. Despite its problems, however, this remains an eminently watchable, well-acted thriller, one which showcases Browning&#8217;s unique vision, and is thus worth viewing at least once. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lon Chaney, remarkably convincing as both Echo and &#8220;Granny O&#8217;Grady&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Chaney.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Chaney.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-61912\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Chaney.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Chaney-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Chaney-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Chaney-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Harry Earles, effectively creepy as a twenty-year-old &#8220;baby&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Earles.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Earles.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-61913\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Earles.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Earles-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Earles-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Earles-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>A brief glimpse at Browning&#8217;s fascination with circus sideshow performers<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Fat-Woman.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Fat-Woman.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-61914\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Fat-Woman.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Fat-Woman-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Fat-Woman-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Fat-Woman-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Tattoos.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Tattoos.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-61911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Tattoos.jpg 640w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Tattoos-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Tattoos-128x96.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/12\/Unholy-Three-Tattoos-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes. Though it&#8217;s not nearly as compelling as Browning&#8217;s later masterpiece, this movie holds a special place in film history. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0016473\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeout.com\/film\/81050.html\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1925\/08\/04\/archives\/the-screen.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2014\/12\/07\/the-unholy-three-1925\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There was an old woman who was a man, and two others &#8212; the Unholy Three.&#8221; Synopsis: Three sideshow performers &#8212; Echo the ventriloquist (Lon Chaney, Sr.), Hercules the strongman (Victor McLaglen), and midget Tweedledee (Harry Earles) &#8212; team up as con artists, calling themselves &#8220;The Unholy Three&#8221;. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Con Artists Falsely Accused Lon Chaney, Sr. Films Silent Films Thieves Tod Browning Films Ventriloquism Victor McLaglen Films Review: This silent thriller &#8212; remade as a talkie&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1880\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1880","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1880"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1880\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":66086,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1880\/revisions\/66086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1880"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1880"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1880"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}