I never saw the 1925 silent so I won't compare them. A trio of circus performers--a ventriloquist (Lon Chaney), a midget (Harry Earles) and a strongman (Ivan Linow) leave the circus and, along with beautiful Rosie (Lila Lee), turn to crime to get rich. But not everything turns out like they hoped.
Lon Chaney's first talking film and, sadly, his last film. He died of cancer shortly after this was completed. Basically he's the whole show here. He was always a good actor who could change his appearance in incredible ways, but this movie showed he could change his voice too. He plays a old woman quite convincingly in this one. He overacts in all his roles but in a fun manner (like Vincent Price). The rest of the actors are just OK with Earles being completely incomprehensible! It's not his fault--early sound recording was never good. The plot moves quick but it's full of highly unlikely events. Wait till you see the animal Chaney gets! Still it's a good movie and worth seeing just to see Chaney in his only speaking--and last--movie.
Lon Chaney's first talking film and, sadly, his last film. He died of cancer shortly after this was completed. Basically he's the whole show here. He was always a good actor who could change his appearance in incredible ways, but this movie showed he could change his voice too. He plays a old woman quite convincingly in this one. He overacts in all his roles but in a fun manner (like Vincent Price). The rest of the actors are just OK with Earles being completely incomprehensible! It's not his fault--early sound recording was never good. The plot moves quick but it's full of highly unlikely events. Wait till you see the animal Chaney gets! Still it's a good movie and worth seeing just to see Chaney in his only speaking--and last--movie.