Character Relationships in The Unknown
Alonzo (played by Lon Chaney) is a protagonist in The Unknown.
A circus performer who secretly hides his arms to win Nanon's affection, using his feet for knife-throwing and marksmanship. He possesses a distinctive double thumb on his left hand. After murdering Nanon's father, he blackmails a surgeon to permanently amputate his arms to secure her love. His sacrifice fails when Nanon overcomes her fear and marries Malabar. In a jealous rage, he sabotages a circus stunt, ultimately pushing Nanon to safety before being killed by a horse. Malabar (played by Norman Kerry) is a protagonist in The Unknown.
A circus strongman deeply devoted to Nanon. Initially rejected due to her severe phobia of men's hands, he persistently courts her. His unwavering affection eventually helps Nanon overcome her fear, leading to their engagement. He performs a dangerous stunt involving horses and treadmills, which Alonzo sabotages. Malabar is spared from mutilation when Alonzo pushes Nanon out of the way during the chaos, resulting in Alonzo's death. Nanon Zanzi (played by Joan Crawford) appears in The Unknown.
The circus owner's daughter who suffers from a severe phobia of men's hands, making her comfortable only with the 'armless' Alonzo. She kisses him, giving him hope, but later witnesses her father's murder, partially seeing the killer's double thumb. Driven by Malabar's persistent love, she conquers her fear and agrees to marry him. During a sabotaged circus act, she attempts to intervene and is pushed to safety by Alonzo before a horse tramples him. Antonio Zanzi (played by Nick De Ruiz) appears in The Unknown.
Nanon's father and the circus owner. He discovers Alonzo's secret of having arms and confronts him. Alonzo strangles him with his bare hands outside the circus wagon. Nanon witnesses the murder through a window, partially seeing the killer's double thumb, which later becomes a key clue to Alonzo's guilt. Woman in Audience (uncredited) (played by Venezia Frandi) appears in The Unknown.
Cojo (played by John George) appears in The Unknown.
A dwarf and Alonzo's close friend who knows the secret of his hidden arms. He warns Alonzo that Nanon's hand phobia makes intimacy dangerous and that her marriage to Malabar is inevitable. He advises Alonzo that revealing his true identity would expose him as his father's murderer due to his distinctive double thumb, pushing Alonzo toward his tragic decision to amputate his limbs. Surgeon (uncredited) (played by John St. Polis) appears in The Unknown.
Costra (played by Frank Lanning) appears in The Unknown.
The Unknown (1927) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
