# The Unholy Three (1925 film)

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A 1925 American silent crime melodrama film involving a trio of circus conmen. It is adapted from Tod Robbins's novel The Unholy Three (1917).
Cast and Crew :
| Cast ||
| Role | Actor |
| | Lon Chaney |
| | Mae Busch |
| | Matt Moore |
| | Victor McLaglen |
| | Harry Earles |
| | Edward Connelly |
| | William Humphrey |
| | E. Alyn Warren |
| | Percy Williams |
| | Carrie Daumery |
| Crew ||
| Production company | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Distributor | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Director | Tod Browning (d. 1962) |
| Producer | Irving Thalberg (d. 1936), Tod Browning |
| Screenwriter | Waldemar Young (d. 1938) |
| Production designer | Cedric Gibbons |
| Based on available information, the latest crew member that is relevant to international copyright laws died in 1962, meaning that this film may be in the public domain in countries and jurisdictions with 61 years p.m.a. or less, as well as in the United States. ||
ARS GRATIA ARTIS TRADE MARK
Metro, Goldwyn, Mayer
LOUIS B. MAYER Presents Lon Chaney IN Tod Browning's Production The UNHOLY THREE
COPYRIGHT MCMXXV IN U.S.A BY METRO-GOLDWYN PICTURES CORPORATION ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNDER INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF BUENOS AIRES CONTROLLED BY LOEW'S INCORPORATED
Directed by Tod Browning
Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Corporation
Released through Metro-Goldwyn Distributing Corporation
| Story By Tod Robbins | Scenario by Waldemar Young |
| Settings by Cedric Gibbons and Joseph Wright ||
| Photography by David Kesson | Edited by Daniel Gray |
The Players
Passed by The National Board of Review
'Twas a balmy summer evening, And a goodly crowd was there.
CHOLMONDELAY
Veronica Tattooed Woman
ELSA
Ella THIMATE TWINS Ruth
DON'T MISS THE CIRCUS […]
HERCULES
"Hercules! The mighty … marvelous … mastodonic model of muscular masculinity!"
"Never smoke cigarettes and you'll be a big strong man like him."
Prof. Echo Ventriloquist
"Professor Echo! God's gifted genius! The velvet-voiced ventriloquist!"
"Nemo, how would you like to walk over to my house and have a drink?"
"Why walk? Let's run!"
Sweet Rosie O'Grady.
"That's all there is to life, friends—a little laughter … a little tear …"
"This dollar pamphlet contains one thousand wheezes and jokes—a guaranteed tonic for dull care! The price is ten cents—one dime!"
Little Egypt
The Worlds Greatest Artist
"Now folks—that's just a sample of the little lady's art! The show on the inside starts immediately!"
"See her do the dance that broke the Sultan's thermometer!"
"You're there, Rosie—the best pal a guy ever had!"
"And tonight when we eat, I'm goin' to buy you a swell steak!"
"I just couldn't hold out on you, Echo. You're too square a guy!"
"I'm glad you done that, Rosie. Money got that way never done no one no good!"
TWEEDLEDEE HEIGHT 26$^{in}$ WEIGHT 36$^{lb}$
"Tweedledee! Twenty inches! Twenty years! Twenty pounds! The Twentieth Century Curiosity!"
"The Demi-Tasse Daddy."
"Fools!"
NO SMOKING
Midnight——
"You see, my plan is so ridiculous … so simple … that it scares you."
"But … if you come with me, we'll clean up millions."
"It's spooky! It sounds … unholy!"
"That's it!"
"We'll be the Unholy Three!"
The day before Christmas—
O'GRADY'S BIRD STORE
Donkey's
"And how is Hector McDonald, my Grandma's little parrot seller?"
"Don't let her tease you, Hector."
"Little Willie darling heard your voice. He wants you to take him bye-bye."
"You're just an old darling, Hector. I won't tease you any more."
"You're makin' a play for that guy!"
"Since when do you own me?"
"If you tip that boob off to who we are, I'll lay some lilies under your chin!"
"Da-da! Da-da!"
"If you don't stop yelling, you'll tip him off yourself."
"I'll get Mrs. O'Grady."
"I think you'd better show the parrots. They talk so well for you."
Echo, the ventriloquist, could make wooden dummies talk——now watch the jolly parrots!
PRETTY POLLY
GOOD MORNING AUNTY
PRETTY POLLY
PRETTY LADY!
PRETTY LADY!
PRETTY LADY!
"Isn't it wonderful how the parrots always talk to your Grandma?"
"That house, where you called about the parrot, was robbed last night."
"This is Mr. Arlington. The parrot you sold me doesn't talk."
"Here's another parrot that won't talk."
"All right, I'll come over. I'm sure when the bird sees me it will fell more at home."
"The lady from the bird store, Mr. Arlington."
"May I leave him here? He might cry if he sees the——"
"B——" "——I——" "——R——" "——D."
"Take mine, darling—and Granny will get you some red beads just like those."
"He's always been so fond of beads!"
Christmas Eve——
"—and then, Echo says to me 'Granny will get you some red beads just like those'!"
"Yes, and before morning Granny will have those pretty red beads."
"Hector's out there with a Christmas tree for little Willie."
"Didn't I order you to stay away from that guy?"
"I wasn't with him! I met him on the corner headed for here!"
"Wait for me in the kitchen."
"You go back to bed, Mrs. O'Grady. Rosie and I will trim the tree."
"Get trim of him! We're gonna pull that Arlington job tonight."
"Oh, I'm mad at Granny! She won't stay in bed!"
"Perhaps she wants to help us trim the tree."
"Yes, she'd love to do some trimming."
"That guy bossin' me … me and my strength!"
"He's too jealous to leave her with that boob. Come on … we'll turn this trick alone!"
"I've a secret I want you to share. I'm going to ask Rosie to marry me."
"But I'm not going to give her the ring until tomorrow."
"You and your strength! You're yellow, you big stiff … or you'd come with me."
"You heard me! You're yellow!"
JOHN ARLINGTON MURDERED IN HOME BY JEWEL THIEVES
BANKER'S THREE YEAR' OLD DAUGHTER IS BADLY HURT; IN PRECARIOUS CONDITION
Mysterious Assassins Invade Park Avenue Home After Midnight—Kill Prominent Philantropist, Injure Child. Escape With $100,000 Without Leaving No Clue
"'Oh, spare my life', said Mr. Arlington, 'spare my life'!"
"You——filth!"
"Don't you realize that you've murdered a man?"
"That's why I said we'd never carry a gun!"
"Was there anybody beside yourselves knew the rubies were here in the house?"
"There was an old woman from a bird store who saw the rubies."
"If you don't want to part of these, because of how we got 'em … then me and the Kid will take 'em."
"You're gonna put 'em back in the safe with the rest of our stuff!"
"I'm from Police Headquarters."
"Oh, yes. Isn't it terrible? Mr. Arlington was one of my best customers."
"You were at Mr. Arlington's home yesterday, weren't you?"
"Did the man you saw with Mr. Arlington look as if he would commit such a crime?"
"The reason I ask is because sometimes the least little thing gives us a clue."
"Cow! Cow! Cow!"
"I hate to see anybody tease a baby."
"I don't like to take his toys from him. Let's finish our talk in the store."
"You sold a parrot to Mr. Arlington. Who delivered it?"
"Oh! So you delivered it yourself? You forget easy, don't you?"
"So long. I'll see you later."
"That dick has a line on us——we gotta think fast!"
"He's got a hunch Hector turned this trick. Let's plant the jewels in the boob's room!"
"That's it! Make him the fall guy!"
"That's what we hired him for, isn't it … in case we got in a jam?"
Christmas night——
"Don't you think my savings are enough for us to start on?"
"If I loved a man, he wouldn't have to have a dime!"
"Oh! If you loved a man!"
"Then why have you let me go on hoping?"
"Aw, I've just been kidding!"
"Oh, Hector, I tried so hard not to let you know I love you——"
"I've been a crook … a pick-pocket!"
"But you're not going to be any more."
"I did some pretty bad thing myself … when I was young."
"Gee, but you've made this a great Christmas, Rosie."
"Gee, but you've made this a great Christmas, Rosie!"
"Ain't you the kidder?"
"No, Echo, I'm on the level. I love him!"
"Thanks."
"What are you going to do?"
"You'll find out soon enough!"
"Extry! Extry! Arlington murderer arrested!"
ARLINGTON MURDERER ARRESTED
"What a bonehead I was to overlook that!"
McDonald's alibi, that he was at Mrs. O'Grady's bird store, will be investigated by the police.
"That means more investigation—but there ain't goin' to be no Mrs. O'Grady when they get here!"
"Yes there is goin' to be a Mrs. O'Grady—that dick saw me here——"
"You guys can get out of your make-up … but I can't! And I ain't going to the chair alone."
"And neither is Hector McDonald going to the chair!"
"Now, lough that off … you big stiff!"
"What are you going to do?"
"You'll find out soon enough!"
"Regan in on his way to O'Grady's bird store."
"Here's one thing stronger than you … and I might need him."
It was Spring before the grim machinery of the law worked around to the case of Hector McDonald.
"Does the defendant's attorney intend to produce the alleged witnesses, Mrs. O'Grady and her grand-daughter?"
"We're making every effort to locate them."
While in a secluded cabin in the mountains——
"In his prison cell he sits."
"How about just us two dividin' the stuff?"
"Maybe I got a better plan."
"You can save him, Echo. And, if you will, I'll stick with you. I'll never see Hector again."
"Yes! You'd stick with me … but you'd go on loving him."
"——and the minute he's free, you'd double-cross me and go back to him."
"Don't you understand … I'll do anything to save him! I love him, Echo … I love him."
"I'd even take that from you."
"After that, you don't want to change your mind about sticking with me?"
He would always have Rosie … if he saved Hector. This was the thought that took Echo secretly to the city.
"Your Honor, I object! He is mis-stating the evidence!"
"Objection over-ruled!"
Have your lawyer put you back on the witness stand. When you get there keep repeating the Lord's prayer. move your lips But don't utter a sound. Have faith in miracles.
Mrs. O'Grady.
"It's Mrs. O'Grady's handwriting … and she's not here!"
"Your Honor, may the defendant take the stand again to give new evidence?"
"In a case so serious as his, with a man's life at stake, the court cannot reasonably deny your request."
"Speak louder!"
"You Honor, and gentlemen of the jury——"
"There was an old woman who was a man——and two others—the Unholy Three——"
"First, it was an old woman and her grand-daughter! Now, the old woman is a man! What next?"
"That wasn't me talking! I didn't say a world!"
"——and it must be remembered that the defense has failed to produce a single witness to confirm the prisoner's story!"
"You mean … you want me to go with you?"
"There's a fortune for just us two to split. What do you say?"
"Do you think he's guilty? Will he get the chair?"
"I'm Echo, the ventriloquist … Grandma O'Grady of the 'Unholy Three'!"
"Your Honor, I want to make a full confession!"
The Law can be kind … And Echo's confession won freedom for both himself and Hector.
May 6
Dear Hector: I'll never see you again — — I can't explain — — but always remember I love you, Hector — I love you.
Good-Bye; Rosie
"Echo, you remember what I promised if you saved Hector?"
"Well …… I'm here."
"Aw, what's the use of us kiddin', Rosie. We don't love each other. You run along to Hector."
"Do you really mean that, Echo?"
"Good-by, old Pal."
PROF. ECHO VENTRILOQUIST
"That's all there is to life, friends … a little laughter … a little tear—"
The End
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1962, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 61 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
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