The Unholy Three (1930 film): Difference between revisions
added Category:Christmas drama films using HotCat |
Copyedited external links |
||
(30 intermediate revisions by 17 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|1930 film}} |
{{short description|1930 American melodrama film}} |
||
{{Use mdy dates|date= |
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} |
||
{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
||
| name = The Unholy Three |
| name = The Unholy Three |
||
| image = The Unholy Three (1930 film).jpg |
| image = The Unholy Three (1930 film).jpg |
||
| caption = ''The Unholy Three'', 1930 remake, was the first [[talkie]] and last film of [[Lon Chaney |
| caption = ''The Unholy Three'', 1930 remake, was the first [[talkie]] and last film of [[Lon Chaney]], showing him, on the far right, of the theatrical film poster |
||
| director = [[Jack Conway (film-maker)|Jack Conway]] |
| director = [[Jack Conway (film-maker)|Jack Conway]] |
||
| producer = [[Irving Thalberg]] |
| producer = [[Irving Thalberg]] |
||
| |
| based_on = {{based on|''The Unholy Three''<br>1917 novel|[[Tod Robbins]]}} |
||
| writer = [[J. C. Nugent]] <br> [[Elliott Nugent]] |
| writer = [[J. C. Nugent]] <br> [[Elliott Nugent]] |
||
| starring = [[ |
| starring = [[Lon Chaney]] <br> [[Lila Lee]] <br> [[Elliott Nugent]]<br>[[Harry Earles]] |
||
| music = [[William Axt]] |
| music = [[William Axt]] |
||
| cinematography = Percy Hilburn |
| cinematography = Percy Hilburn |
||
| editing = [[Frank Sullivan (film editor)|Frank Sullivan]] |
| editing = [[Frank Sullivan (film editor)|Frank Sullivan]] |
||
Line 19: | Line 19: | ||
| country = United States |
| country = United States |
||
| language = English |
| language = English |
||
| budget = |
|||
| gross = $988,000<ref name=blake>{{cite book|last=Blake|first=Michael Francis|title=A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney's Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures|year=1995|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=1-879-51121-5|page=331}}</ref> |
| gross = $988,000<ref name=blake>{{cite book|last=Blake|first=Michael Francis|title=A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney's Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures|year=1995|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=1-879-51121-5|page=331}}</ref> |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''The Unholy Three''''' is a 1930 American [[Pre-Code]] [[melodrama]] directed by [[Jack Conway (film-maker)|Jack Conway]] and starring [[ |
'''''The Unholy Three''''' is a 1930 American [[Pre-Code]] [[melodrama]] directed by [[Jack Conway (film-maker)|Jack Conway]] and starring [[Lon Chaney]]. Its plot involves a crime spree. The film is a sound [[remake]] of the silent [[The Unholy Three (1925 film)|1925 film of the same name]],<ref>Herzogenrath, Bernd, ed. The Cinema of Tod Browning: Essays of the Macabre and Grotesque. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2008. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3447-3}}.</ref> with both films based on the novel ''The Unholy Three'', by [[Tod Robbins]]. |
||
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 it was Chaney's last film, as well as his only [[talkie]]. Chaney died from [[Esophageal cancer|throat cancer]] one month after the film's release.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dixon|first=Wheeler Winston |title=A History of Horror|year=2010|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=0-813-55039- |
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 it was Chaney's last film, as well as his only [[talkie]]. Chaney died from [[Esophageal cancer|throat cancer]] one month after the film's release.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dixon|first=Wheeler Winston |title=A History of Horror|year=2010|publisher=Rutgers University Press|isbn=978-0-813-55039-8|page=13}}</ref> |
||
==Plot== |
==Plot== |
||
A [[sideshow]] is closed by the police after Tweedledee (Harry Earles), the embittered "Twenty Inch Man", kicks a young boy, starting a riot. Echo, the [[ventriloquist]], proposes that Tweedledee, the [[Strongman (circus)|strongman]] Hercules ([[Ivan Linow]]), and he leave and, as "The Unholy Three", use their talents to commit crimes. Echo also takes along his pickpocket girlfriend Rosie ([[Lila Lee]]) and his gorilla, whom Hercules fears. |
A [[sideshow]] is closed by the police after Tweedledee (Harry Earles), the embittered "Twenty Inch Man", kicks a young boy, starting a riot. Echo, the [[ventriloquist]], proposes that Tweedledee, the [[Strongman (circus)|strongman]] Hercules ([[Ivan Linow]]), and he leave and, as "The Unholy Three", use their talents to commit crimes. Echo also takes along his pickpocket girlfriend Rosie ([[Lila Lee]]) and his gorilla, whom Hercules fears. |
||
Echo disguises himself as Mrs. O'Grady, a kindly old grandmother who runs a pet shop. Tweedledee pretends to be her baby grandson, and Hercules her son-in-law. They use the information they gain from their wealthier patrons to rob them. Echo is the leader and brains behind the outfit, but his bossy ways leave the other two resentful. Meanwhile, the shop's clerk, Hector McDonald ([[Elliott Nugent]]), falls in love with Rosie. |
Echo disguises himself as Mrs. O'Grady, a kindly old grandmother who runs a pet shop. Tweedledee pretends to be her baby grandson, and Hercules her son-in-law. They use the information they gain from their wealthier patrons to rob them. Echo is the leader and brains behind the outfit, but his bossy ways leave the other two resentful. Meanwhile, the shop's clerk, Hector McDonald ([[Elliott Nugent]]), falls in love with Rosie. |
||
The gang is ready to pull off a theft on Christmas Eve. When Echo decides to postpone it, Tweedledee and Hercules go ahead without him. Afterwards, Tweedledee gleefully recounts how they not only robbed but also killed the wealthy Mr. Arlington, despite his pleas for mercy. Worried about the police, they decide to frame Hector by planting a stolen necklace in his closet. |
The gang is ready to pull off a theft on Christmas Eve. When Echo decides to postpone it, Tweedledee and Hercules go ahead without him. Afterwards, Tweedledee gleefully recounts how they not only robbed but also killed the wealthy Mr. Arlington, despite his pleas for mercy. Worried about the police, they decide to frame Hector by planting a stolen necklace in his closet. |
||
That same night, Hector asks Rosie to marry him. Ashamed of her past, she pretends she was only leading him on for a laugh. After he leaves, she starts crying; he returns, sees that she really does love him, and they become engaged. |
That same night, Hector asks Rosie to marry him. Ashamed of her past, she pretends she was only leading him on for a laugh. After he leaves, she starts crying; he returns, sees that she really does love him, and they become engaged. |
||
Line 43: | Line 42: | ||
==Cast== |
==Cast== |
||
*[[ |
* [[Lon Chaney]] as Professor Echo / Mrs O'Grady |
||
*[[Lila Lee]] as Rosie O'Grady |
* [[Lila Lee]] as Rosie O'Grady |
||
*[[Elliott Nugent]] as Hector McDonald |
* [[Elliott Nugent]] as Hector McDonald |
||
*[[Harry Earles]] as Midget / Tweedle Dee |
* [[Harry Earles]] as Midget / Tweedle Dee |
||
*[[John Miljan]] as Prosecuting Attorney |
* [[John Miljan]] as Prosecuting Attorney |
||
*[[Ivan Linow]] as Hercules |
* [[Ivan Linow]] as Hercules |
||
*[[Clarence Burton]] as Detective Regan |
* [[Clarence Burton]] as Detective Regan |
||
*[[Crauford Kent]] as Defense Attorney |
* [[Crauford Kent]] as Defense Attorney |
||
*[[Sidney Bracey]] as Mr. Arlington's butler |
* [[Sidney Bracey]] as Mr. Arlington's butler |
||
*[[Trixie Friganza]] as Lady Customer (uncredited) |
* [[Trixie Friganza]] as Lady Customer (uncredited) |
||
*[[Joseph W. Girard]] as Judge (uncredited) |
* [[Joseph W. Girard]] as Judge (uncredited) |
||
*[[Armand Kaliz]] as Jeweler (uncredited) |
* [[Armand Kaliz]] as Jeweler (uncredited) |
||
* [[Charles Gemora]] as Gorilla (uncredited) |
|||
==Reception== |
==Reception== |
||
Line 65: | Line 65: | ||
== External links == |
== External links == |
||
{{Wikiquote}} |
{{Wikiquote}} |
||
* {{ |
* {{AllMovie title|51855}} |
||
* {{IMDb title|0021505 |
* {{IMDb title|0021505}} |
||
* {{ |
* {{TCMDb title|94478}} |
||
* {{AFI film|12952}} |
|||
{{Jack Conway |
{{Jack Conway}} |
||
{{Irving Thalberg}} |
{{Irving Thalberg}} |
||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Unholy Three}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Unholy Three}} |
||
[[Category:1930 films]] |
[[Category:1930 films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1930 crime drama films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1930s Christmas drama films]] |
||
[[Category:American crime drama films]] |
[[Category:American crime drama films]] |
||
[[Category:American black-and-white films]] |
[[Category:American black-and-white films]] |
||
[[Category:Remakes of American films]] |
|||
[[Category:Cross-dressing in American films]] |
[[Category:Cross-dressing in American films]] |
||
[[Category:Films based on American novels]] |
[[Category:Films based on American novels]] |
||
Line 83: | Line 86: | ||
[[Category:Films produced by Irving Thalberg]] |
[[Category:Films produced by Irving Thalberg]] |
||
[[Category:Sound film remakes of silent films]] |
[[Category:Sound film remakes of silent films]] |
||
[[Category:American film remakes]] |
|||
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]] |
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1930s melodrama films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:American Christmas drama films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1930s American films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Films scored by William Axt]] |
||
[[Category:1930s English-language films]] |
|||
[[Category:English-language crime drama films]] |
|||
[[Category:English-language Christmas drama films]] |
Latest revision as of 15:25, 25 October 2024
The Unholy Three | |
---|---|
Directed by | Jack Conway |
Written by | J. C. Nugent Elliott Nugent |
Based on | The Unholy Three 1917 novel by Tod Robbins |
Produced by | Irving Thalberg |
Starring | Lon Chaney Lila Lee Elliott Nugent Harry Earles |
Cinematography | Percy Hilburn |
Edited by | Frank Sullivan |
Music by | William Axt |
Production company | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date |
|
Running time | 72 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $988,000[1] |
The Unholy Three is a 1930 American Pre-Code melodrama directed by Jack Conway and starring Lon Chaney. Its plot involves a crime spree. The film is a sound remake of the silent 1925 film of the same name,[2] with both films based on the novel The Unholy Three, by Tod Robbins.
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 it was Chaney's last film, as well as his only talkie. Chaney died from throat cancer one month after the film's release.[3]
Plot
[edit]A sideshow is closed by the police after Tweedledee (Harry Earles), the embittered "Twenty Inch Man", kicks a young boy, starting a riot. Echo, the ventriloquist, proposes that Tweedledee, the strongman Hercules (Ivan Linow), and he leave and, as "The Unholy Three", use their talents to commit crimes. Echo also takes along his pickpocket girlfriend Rosie (Lila Lee) and his gorilla, whom Hercules fears.
Echo disguises himself as Mrs. O'Grady, a kindly old grandmother who runs a pet shop. Tweedledee pretends to be her baby grandson, and Hercules her son-in-law. They use the information they gain from their wealthier patrons to rob them. Echo is the leader and brains behind the outfit, but his bossy ways leave the other two resentful. Meanwhile, the shop's clerk, Hector McDonald (Elliott Nugent), falls in love with Rosie.
The gang is ready to pull off a theft on Christmas Eve. When Echo decides to postpone it, Tweedledee and Hercules go ahead without him. Afterwards, Tweedledee gleefully recounts how they not only robbed but also killed the wealthy Mr. Arlington, despite his pleas for mercy. Worried about the police, they decide to frame Hector by planting a stolen necklace in his closet.
That same night, Hector asks Rosie to marry him. Ashamed of her past, she pretends she was only leading him on for a laugh. After he leaves, she starts crying; he returns, sees that she really does love him, and they become engaged.
However, Hector is arrested for murder. Still frightened, the Unholy Trio hide out in an isolated cabin in the country, forcibly taking Rosie with them. Rosie pleads with Echo to exonerate Hector somehow in exchange for her returning to him. Tweedledee tries to persuade Hercules to shoot them both, but the strongman refuses.
Echo, as "Grandma" O'Grady, shows up at the trial and tries to provide an alibi, but slips up and his disguise is discovered. He makes a full confession and receives a sentence of one to five years. Back at the cabin, Tweedledee overhears Hercules offering Rosie a chance to run away with him (and the loot), so he lets loose the gorilla; Hercules murders Tweedledee before he himself is killed by the ape. Rosie escapes.
As Echo is being taken to prison, Rosie promises to wait for him, honoring their agreement. Realizing she loves Hector, he generously tells her not to.
Cast
[edit]- Lon Chaney as Professor Echo / Mrs O'Grady
- Lila Lee as Rosie O'Grady
- Elliott Nugent as Hector McDonald
- Harry Earles as Midget / Tweedle Dee
- John Miljan as Prosecuting Attorney
- Ivan Linow as Hercules
- Clarence Burton as Detective Regan
- Crauford Kent as Defense Attorney
- Sidney Bracey as Mr. Arlington's butler
- Trixie Friganza as Lady Customer (uncredited)
- Joseph W. Girard as Judge (uncredited)
- Armand Kaliz as Jeweler (uncredited)
- Charles Gemora as Gorilla (uncredited)
Reception
[edit]This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2018) |
Film critic Leonard Maltin awarded the film two and a half out of four stars, praising Chaney's performance while criticizing the performances by the rest of the cast.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Blake, Michael Francis (1995). A Thousand Faces: Lon Chaney's Unique Artistry in Motion Pictures. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 331. ISBN 1-879-51121-5.
- ^ Herzogenrath, Bernd, ed. The Cinema of Tod Browning: Essays of the Macabre and Grotesque. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7864-3447-3.
- ^ Dixon, Wheeler Winston (2010). A History of Horror. Rutgers University Press. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-813-55039-8.
- ^ Leonard Maltin; Spencer Green; Rob Edelman (January 2010). Leonard Maltin's Classic Movie Guide. Plume. p. 715. ISBN 978-0-452-29577-3.
External links
[edit]- 1930 films
- 1930 crime drama films
- 1930s Christmas drama films
- American crime drama films
- American black-and-white films
- Remakes of American films
- Cross-dressing in American films
- Films based on American novels
- Films directed by Jack Conway
- Films produced by Irving Thalberg
- Sound film remakes of silent films
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- 1930s melodrama films
- American Christmas drama films
- 1930s American films
- Films scored by William Axt
- 1930s English-language films
- English-language crime drama films
- English-language Christmas drama films