The Unholy Three is a 1925 American silent crime melodrama film involving a trio of circus conmen, directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney . The supporting cast features Mae Busch , Matt Moore , Victor McLaglen , and Harry Earles . The Unholy Three marks the establishment of the notable artistic alliance between director Browning and actor Chaney that would deliver eight films to M-G-M studios during the late silent film era. Principal photography went from December 1924 through January 20, 1925. The film had a premiere on May 30, 1925 in San Francisco. It went into release in New York at the Capitol Theatre on August 16, 1925. The film's budget was $114,000, and the worldwide box office gross was $704,000. Stills exist showing Chaney's two makeups in the film, his ventiloquist act, as well as a group shot of the Unholy Three plotting together. The film was remade in 1930 as a talkie directed by Jack Conway . Chaney and Earles repeated their performances as Professor Echo and Tweedledee. Chaney died shortly after filming the 1930 remake, the only film to feature the actor’s voice.