The Unholy Three
About The Unholy Three
Police shut a sideshow after the little person Tweedledee kicks a boy and starts a riot. Ventriloquist Professor Echo tells Tweedledee and the strongman Hercules they will rob as the Unholy Three, with Echo's pickpocket girlfriend Rosie and a gorilla. Echo dresses as Mrs. O'Grady and runs a pet shop. Tweedledee plays her grandson and Hercules her son-in-law. They rob customers whose names they take in the shop. The clerk Hector McDonald falls for Rosie. On Christmas Eve, Tweedledee and Hercules rob and kill Mr. Arlington and leave a necklace that frames Hector. The three hide in a cabin with Rosie. Echo, still as the grandmother, tries to give Hector an alibi in court, is exposed, and takes a sentence of one to five years. At the cabin Tweedledee lets the gorilla out. It kills Hercules and Tweedledee. Rosie gets away. On the way to prison Echo tells her to marry Hector.
Cast & crew
More about The Unholy Three
Jack Conway directed this sound remake of the 1925 silent film. Both come from Tod Robbins's 1917 novel The Unholy Three. Irving Thalberg produced it. Frank Sullivan edited. William Axt wrote the music. MGM released it on July 12, 1930. It runs 72 minutes. Lon Chaney and Harry Earles repeat the roles of Echo and Tweedledee from the silent version. It is Chaney's only talkie and his last film.
Themes
Making
Chaney speaks on screen for the only time, including the old-woman voice he uses as Mrs. O'Grady in the pet shop and in court.
Reviews
Kinema Guide called Chaney's performance remarkable and the film packed with thrills. Talking Screen called it one of the outstanding things of the year. Photoplay wrote about the five voices.
Music
William Axt wrote the music for the talkie.
Preservation
A print is on Wikimedia Commons.
Notes
- Lila Lee plays Rosie. Elliott Nugent plays Hector McDonald. Ivan Linow plays Hercules. Charles Gemora plays the gorilla.
- John Miljan is the prosecutor. Clarence Burton is Detective Regan. Crauford Kent is the defense attorney.
- Photoplay noted that Chaney uses five voices.
- Chaney died of throat cancer one month after the July 12 release.
- Reported box office was $988,000.
Scenes
- Echo, in a woman's dress, sells pets and takes the names of rich customers.
- Tweedledee and Hercules kill Mr. Arlington and leave the necklace with Hector.
- The gorilla kills Hercules and Tweedledee in the cabin.
Influenced by
- The Unholy Three (novel by Tod Robbins, 1917)
- The Unholy Three (1925 film)
Also available
- Wikimedia Commons (The Unholy Three (1930).webm)
