The Unknown (1927) - Tod Browning 

It might seem odd to say this, but this might be the best Tod Browning film of them all (I'm far from being an expert). In all Chaney and Browning made 10 films together (Dracula was to be the tenth) and for many modern audiences this holds up the best. Reading one review of the film however it makes a point that this film almost had to be a silent film. The plot would seem ridiculous in a sound film, but somehow our suspension of disbelief is much greater in silent film (after all we have to assume they really can speak). Chaney plays a murderer on the run who is with a carnival. He plays a man with no arms who does shooting and knife throwing tricks with the aid of a lovely assistant played by Joan Crawford. She has a repulsion to men touching her, which makes it seem almost too perfect for Chaney. The only catch is Chaney really does have arms. His competition comes from the resident strong man (who doesn't look that strong) who has a somewhat sincere love for Crawford. In order to protect himself Chaney persuades a doctor to amputate his arms. After his recovery he is a little surprised to find Crawford over her fear of being touched and in love with the strong man. Let's just say Chaney has some revenge in mind. 

His performance her is exemplary. Often Chaney would be able to hide behind elaborate makeup jobs, but here his face is pretty much as is. A real life circus performer doubled Chaney's feet and would make something of a career for himself being billed as "Lon Chaney's Legs". Browning's love for the oddities of the circus world is perfectly on display here and its hard not to feel for Chaney. Crawford was still relatively new to acting and it wouldn't be until the next year's Our Dancing Daughters that she would solidify her star status. Included on the DVD is a recreation of the long lost London After Midnight, comprised of a new score and production stills. It helps convey the plot but it in no way should be accepted as a substitute for the real film. An additional documentary on Chaney is also included which is almost entirely praiseworthy but definitely informative.