Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

The Unknown Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 15, 2023

Tod Browning's "The Unknown" (1927) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the release include new program with author Megan Abbott and new audio commentary by critic and author David Skal. In English, with original English intertitles. Region-Free.

The technical information that precedes the opening credits of Tod Browning’s The Unknown highlights several important details that should make it easier to evaluate and enjoy the recent restoration of the film. The restoration was a complex reconstruction project that combined material from two surviving prints, a French-language version and a Czech-language version, both with plenty of age-related imperfections. The restoration uses new English intertitles that are based on the original cutting continuity provided by Jon Mirsalis and feature a George Eastman Museum mark (GEM). The restoration introduces a slightly shorter version of The Unknown. Apparently, the original release length of the film was 5,470 ft, while the restoration is 5,346 ft. Elsewhere, it is also mentioned that the restoration is presented with a brand new original score written and recorded by composer Philip Carli.

Despite utilizing very similar characters and themes, The Unknown has little in common with Browning’s most famous film, Freaks. More importantly, the horror element in their stories has a drastically different impact on their identities.

The Unknown tells a classic romantic story with a most unusual twist. At a big and very busy circus, Alonzo (Lon Chaney), despite not having hands, makes ends meet as a knife thrower -- or so everyone, including Zanzi (Nick De Ruiz), the man who runs the circus, thinks. Alonzo does have hands but hides them, and together with his assistant, a dwarf named Cojo (John George), is on the run from the police. They are both thieves who have done several high-profile jobs around the country and managed to get away.

But while pretending to be a veteran knife thrower Alonzo has fallen in love with Zanzi’s beautiful daughter, Nanon (Joan Crawford), who is terrified by male hands. Because Alonzo is always kind to her and never touches her body, Nanon feels safe around him and now likes him, too. Enough to fall in love with Alonzo and eventually become his wife? For now, just enough to prefer his company over that of the big and very strong performer Malabar (Norman Kerry), who has repeatedly made it obvious that he wants to be her man.

When Zanzi accidentally discovers that he has been cheated, Alonzo murders him, while revealing to Nanon a small deformity on one of his fingers, but not his face, that can make it very easy to identify him as the killer. Shortly after, Cojo convinces Alonzo that even if Nanon marries him he will still lose her because on their wedding night she would inevitably discover his secret and realize that he is the killer of her father. Determined not to lose Nanon to Malabar, Alonzo then reaches out to a crooked surgeon with a request to have his arms cut off. Initially, the surgeon refuses, but Alonzo makes him change his mind after threatening to expose one of his darkest secrets. However, while Alonzo is recovering, Nanon overcomes her fear of male hands, falls in love with Malabar, and eventually the two begin planning their wedding.

A contemporary retelling of this story will inevitably shift a lot of the key revelations to the final act, which will irreversibly alter the character arcs as well. One of the key strengths of The Unknown is its ability to build tremendous suspense while very quickly revealing Alonzo’s secret and his plan to keep Nanon for himself. How does this tremendous suspense materialize? Through the incredible facial expressions that the camera captures and their ability to constantly reset the tone and mood of the story. For example, more than a few times it looks like the story is about to become warmer and lighter, but Alonzo’s behavior redirects it and makes it darker and more unsettling. By the time Alonzo returns to the circus, he is already one of the most dangerous maniacs that can be encountered in any silent film.

And yet, it does not seem right to profile The Unknown as a horror film. It is a romantic film for adults whose deconstruction of obsession is as effective as it could have been at the time of its release.

The Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.32:1, encoded with MPEG-4 and granted a 1080i transfer, The Unknown arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

I mentioned elsewhere that this release presents a recent restoration of The Unknown that is actually a complex reconstruction project that combined material from two different sources -- nitrate prints of a French-language version and a Czech-language version of the film. These prints must have been in pretty rough conditions because the restoration looks quite uneven. For example, there are numerous areas with light to moderate surface damage, jumps, and shaky transitions. Density levels fluctuate quite a bit too, though as far as I am concerned this is hardly surprising. I think that some of the retained damage could have been further minimized and even removed with digital tools. The grayscale is convincing but with inconsistencies as well. Generally speaking, delineation, clarity, and depth are always pleasing, which is perhaps somewhat surprising considering all the source limitations that were retained. There are no traces of digital anomalies. All in all, I think that after it was restored and reconstructed The Unknown has good organic qualities. However, it is very easy to tell that time was not kind to it. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: Music LPCM 2.0. The film is presented with brand new English intertitles that have the George Eastman Museum logo (GEM).

The new score was written and recorded by composer Philip Carli in 2023. Obviously, the LPCM 2.0 track offers a flawless reproduction of the studio recording. The piano sounds outstanding, but as expected, all dynamic contrasts have chamber qualities. While viewing the film, I did not encounter any technical issues on the lossless track to report in our review.

The Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by author and Tod Browning biographer David Skal. The commentary follows a format that is almost identical to the one that was used for the new commentary included on Freaks. Mr. Skal shares plenty of information about the exact period in which The Unknown was conceived, its unique qualities, and Tod Browning's direction.

• Sideshow Tod: An Interview with Megan Abbot - in this new program, author Megan Abbot discusses Tod Browning's obsession with the strange, the frequently subversive nature of his work, and the special characters that populate his films. In English, not subtitled. (33 min).

• Booklet - 38-page illustrated leaflet featuring an essay by film critic Farran Smith Nehme as well as technical credits.

The Unknown Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is not easy to profile The Unknown. It is a pretty dark film, or at least most of it is, and its final act is genuinely disturbing, or at least until evil is defeated. It very quickly creates the impression that it aspires to be a horror film, but it is actually a romantic film with a most unusual twist. In other words, it is a seriously subversive film that much like Freaks was well ahead of its time. One more thing. The character Lon Chaney plays is one of the strangest yet most realistic maniacs I have seen appear in a silent film. The Unknown has been recently restored and reconstructed, and is included in Criterion's Tod Browning's Sideshow Shockers, a two-disc set. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.