Tuesday, December 16, 6:00 p.m. | MGM decided to play it safe for Lon Chaney's talking debut with a remake of one of the actor's biggest pre-sound hits, the Tod Browning–directed THE UNHOLY THREE (1925). Chaney was enlisted to reprise the role of malevolent ventriloquist and disguise artist Dr. Echo. While traveling with an itinerant sideshow, Dr. Echo recruits meathead strongman Hercules (Ivan Linow) and belligerent little person Tweedledee (Harry Earles) in a criminal enterprise involving the trio posing as a family of pet shop proprietors. Echo leads the business in old-lady drag as "Grandma" O'Grady, while Hercules poses as his son-in-law and Tweedledee pretends to be “the baby.” Things spin out of control for the Unholy Three after a botched robbery draws the attention of the authorities, spurring Echo to hole up in a remote cabin with his partners in crime, his girlfriend, and his pet gorilla. (CFS) Preceded by: LET’S ALL GO TO THE CIRCUS (Encyclopedia Britannica, 1949, 8 min., 16mm)
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu