This is a bizarre little film and it's no wonder, as it was directed by Tod Browning and starred Lon Chaney, Sr.--a potent combination that led to many other strange and scary films. Chaney plays a ventriloquist who leads a gang of thieves. The others are a midget and a strong man (though Victor McLaglen doesn't look quite muscular enough for the role). The three leave the traveling sideshow they work for and use disguises to set up robberies. In a VERY interesting bit of casting, Chaney is dressed up as an old lady during most of the film! This is highly reminiscent of the excellent later MGM film THE DEVIL DOLL--where Lionel Barrymore does the same to avoid suspicion. Also, the midget is so small and young-looking, that he poses as Chaney's grandson--a baby! Believe it or not, they actually look pretty convincing in these roles.
Later in the film, two of the three thieves stage a robbery AND kill the rich guy whose safe they robbed--and leaving his young daughter badly injured. When the police start investigating, they decide to divert suspicion by planting the stolen necklace on a poor sap! And, while Chaney was NOT one of these robbers or the murderer, he reluctantly agrees to help his girlfriend, Mae Busch, exonerate the man accused since she has fallen for the accused man.
Now Chaney's plan to help the accused is really pretty hair-brained and was a low-point in the film. He uses his ventriloquism in a lame attempt to help out, but no one is particularly impressed (no surprise there). So, he finally admits what he knows and admits that he knows who committed the crime. Now, oddly and completely out of the blue, Chaney's pet gorilla(!) escapes at this same time and kills the other two crooks. Considering they deserved to die for their crimes, this seemed awfully convenient. And, despite a history of crime, the court agrees to just forgive Chaney and everyone is set for a happy, if not exactly believable, ending.
While the film has many excellent scenes, some interesting plot elements and some great cross-dressing scenes, the film has a lot of hokey holes--not enough to ruin the film, but enough to lessen its impact.
FYI--Originally, the film also featured a horrible scene where the murder victim's child was also murdered by the midget. It was apparently VERY disturbing, so the scene was removed and the title cards indicate she was only injured.
Later in the film, two of the three thieves stage a robbery AND kill the rich guy whose safe they robbed--and leaving his young daughter badly injured. When the police start investigating, they decide to divert suspicion by planting the stolen necklace on a poor sap! And, while Chaney was NOT one of these robbers or the murderer, he reluctantly agrees to help his girlfriend, Mae Busch, exonerate the man accused since she has fallen for the accused man.
Now Chaney's plan to help the accused is really pretty hair-brained and was a low-point in the film. He uses his ventriloquism in a lame attempt to help out, but no one is particularly impressed (no surprise there). So, he finally admits what he knows and admits that he knows who committed the crime. Now, oddly and completely out of the blue, Chaney's pet gorilla(!) escapes at this same time and kills the other two crooks. Considering they deserved to die for their crimes, this seemed awfully convenient. And, despite a history of crime, the court agrees to just forgive Chaney and everyone is set for a happy, if not exactly believable, ending.
While the film has many excellent scenes, some interesting plot elements and some great cross-dressing scenes, the film has a lot of hokey holes--not enough to ruin the film, but enough to lessen its impact.
FYI--Originally, the film also featured a horrible scene where the murder victim's child was also murdered by the midget. It was apparently VERY disturbing, so the scene was removed and the title cards indicate she was only injured.