The Unholy Three

If you've never seen a silent movie, then you don't know what you're missing. I know, for some younger people it's hard to watch black and white movies, let alone one that doesn't have any sound, but if you just try it, you know what, you'll discover what movies were all about when they were first being made. I just had the chance to watch The Unholy Three starring Lon Chaney and directed by Todd Browning, who also directed the classics, Dracula and Freaks, and this movie is just as good as those!



The story here is fairly simple, Chaney plays Echo, a ventriloquist who's greed leads him to align himself with the carnival strongman and a little person, together they set up shop selling parrots to rich people, using the deliveries to case the houses for later robberies. Well, they're accompanies by young Rosie O'Grady, she's a pickpocket who works with Echo, who Echo has a soft spot for, but Rosie has fallen in love with Hector, an innocent local that they plan to use as a fall guy, if they ever need one. Well, when one robbery goes wrong and two of the three end up killing a man and his child, Hector gets the blame while the three go on the lam! But, Rosie has fallen in love with Hector and appeals to Echo to go back and free him, vowing that she'll stay with Echo if he only makes sure that Hector isn't given a death sentence for the murders.

The movie really spotlights Chaney's talent, at once rough and tender, his portrayal of Echo has him moving from tough thug to gentle old lady...literally. I've always been a fan of Lon Chaney, but the more I take the chances to see his movies, the more I realize why he was the biggest star in the movies in his time! I'm giving The Unholy Three four out of four cigars,

because, despite the silence, this movie speaks volumes and still holds up today, despite some language issues. Check it out if you ever get the chance, you won't be disappointed! So, until next time, when you'll be wishing that I was silent, remember that the best movies are bad movies.