THE UNHOLY THREE (1930)
Article #298 by Dave Sindelar
Viewing date: 1-7-2002
Posting date: 5-24-2002

A ventriloquist, a strong man, and a midget combine forces to commit robberies.

If you’ve seen the silent version of this movie, you’ve seen this movie. Granted, there are a few changes; it has sound, to start with. It also motivates the scene with the gorilla a little better. It’s also more efficient; the silent movie is about fifteen minutes longer. But the acting isn’t quite as good; Harry Earles had one of the worst acting voices I’ve ever heard, and even Lon Chaney’s voice is a little off-putting and takes some getting used to; I wonder how far he would have gone in talkies if he had lived. As it is, I prefer the silent version, though it is interesting to compare the two.