Movie From the Past - The Unholy Three - 1925

The Unholy Three is a 1925 American silent crime melodrama film involving a trio of circus conmen, directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney. The supporting cast features Mae Busch, Matt Moore, Victor McLaglen, and Harry Earles. The Unholy Three marks the establishment of the notable artistic alliance between director Browning and actor Chaney that would deliver eight films to M-G-M studios during the late silent film era.[2][3][4]

Principal photography went from December 1924 through January 20, 1925.[5] The film had a premiere on May 30, 1925 in San Francisco. It went into release in New York at the Capitol Theatre on August 16, 1925. The film's budget was $114,000, and the worldwide box office gross was $704,000.[6] Stills exist showing Chaney's two makeups in the film,[7] his ventiloquist act,[8] as well as a group shot of the Unholy Three plotting together.[5]

The film was remade in 1930 as a talkie directed by Jack Conway. Chaney and Earles repeated their performances as Professor Echo and Tweedledee. Chaney died shortly after filming the 1930 remake, the only film to feature the actor’s voice.[9]