The Unholy Three (1930 film)

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The Unholy Three (1930)
Directed by	Jack Conway
Produced by	Irving Thalberg (uncredited)
Written by	Clarence Aaron "Tod" Robbins (novel) J.C. Nugent Elliott Nugent
Starring	Lon Chaney, Sr. Lila Lee Elliott Nugent Harry Earles John Milhan Ivan Linow Clarence Burton Crauford Kent
Music by	William Axt (uncredited)
Cinematography	Percy Hilburn
Editing by	Frank Sullivan
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	1930
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Unholy Three is a 1930 melodrama silent film involving a crime spree, directed by Jack Conway. It is a remake of an earlier film made in 1925.

In both versions, the roles of Professor Echo and Tweedledee are played by Lon Chaney and Harry Earles respectively. This film is notable for the fact that the remake was Chaney's last film as well as his only talkie. Chaney died from throat cancer two months after the film's release.

[edit] Synopsis

Three sideshow performers leave their lives of captivity after a child is assaulted at one of their shows and become "The Unholy Three." Echo the ventriloquist assumes the role of Mrs. O'Grady, a kindly old grandmother, who runs a bird shop. Tweedledee, "The Twenty Inch Man," becomes her grandchild, and Hercules (played by Ivan Linow) is their assistant. Soon an incredible crime wave is launched from their little store.

Convincingly disguised as a little old lady, Echo and his two carnival cohorts perform a series of Park Avenue robberies. Echo's sweetheart Rosie (played by Lila Lee) plays along with the Unholy Three but changes her mind when their latest burglary, which ended in murder, threatens to send an innocent man (who is also Rosie's Lover) to the electric chair.

[edit] Cast

Lon Chaney ... Professor Echo, aka Mrs. 'Grandma' O'Grady
Lila Lee ... Rosie O'Grady
Elliott Nugent ... Hector McDonald
Harry Earles ... Tweedledee, aka Willie 'Midget' / 'Midge'
John Miljan ... Prosecuting Attorney
Ivan Linow ... Herman, aka Hercules
Clarence Burton ... Detective Regan
Crauford Kent ... Defense Attorney (as Craufurd Kent)