The Unknown_
"Don't miss this startling spectacle!"
On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder – a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo keeps the arms he really has concealed to hide his identity. Meanwhile, ringmaster's daughter Nanon has a phobia of being touched by men, but is romantically pursued by not only Alonzo but the strongman Malabar. Alonzo's desperation to remain with Nanon will only end in tragedy.
Starring
Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Joan Crawford
Box Office
$847K
Updated Feb 16, 2026
WHERE TO WATCH
Tubi
6 countries
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Box office
The Unknown earned $847K worldwide on a $217K budget — a 290% return on investment.
Year context
The Unknown was released 99 years ago in 1927.
The Unknown is a Drama, Thriller, Romance film with a runtime of 1h 8m.
CAST (16)
Lon Chaney
Alonzo
Norman Kerry
Malabar
Joan Crawford
Nanon Zanzi
Nick De Ruiz
Antonio Zanzi
John George
Cojo
Frank Lanning
Costra
TA
Tom Amandares
Gypsy Running to Zanzi's Death Scene (uncredited)
MB
Margaret Bert
Fortune Teller (uncredited)
Louise Emmons
Gypsy Woman (uncredited)
IF
Italia Frandi
Girl in Audience Flirting with Malabar (uncredited)
VF
Venezia Frandi
Woman in Audience (uncredited)
Polly Moran
Landlady / Servant in Audience (uncredited)
Julian Rivero
Man in Theatre Audience (uncredited)
BS
Billy Seay
The Little Wolf (uncredited)
DS
Dorothy Seay
Spectator (uncredited)
John St. Polis
Surgeon (uncredited)
BOX OFFICE
$217K
Budget
$847K
Revenue
+290%
ROI
BLOCKBUSTER
Verdict
DETAILS
Release
Status
Released
Runtime
68 min (1h 8m)
Language
English
Country
Rating
7.5/10 (206 votes)
Popularity
6
Budget
$217,000
Box Office
$847,000
Profit
+$630,000
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is The Unknown about?
On the lam, criminal Alonzo hides in the circus as The Armless Wonder – a performer who uses his feet to hurl knives. Alonzo keeps the arms he really has concealed to hide his identity. Meanwhile, ringmaster's daughter Nanon has a phobia of being touched by men, but is romantically pursued by not only Alonzo but the strongman Malabar. Alonzo's desperation to remain with Nanon will only end in tragedy.
How long is The Unknown?
The Unknown has a runtime of 68 minutes (1h 8m).
Who stars in The Unknown?
The cast of The Unknown includes Lon Chaney, Norman Kerry, Joan Crawford, Nick De Ruiz, John George.
How much did The Unknown make at the box office?
The Unknown earned $847,000 worldwide at the box office. The production budget was $217,000.
What is the rating of The Unknown?
The Unknown has a rating of 7.5 out of 10 based on 206 votes on TMDB.
GENRES (4)
Drama
Thriller
Romance
Horror