young joan crawford learn a lot from watch and talk to lon chaney on the set of this very strange horror film . alonzo the armless be a knife thrower with a travel circus in spain . his assistant be nanon and who have a phobia about men with arm . her fear be real men arm clutch and grab . malabar the mighty be the circus strongman who love nanon but he have arm . alonzo also love her . without arm she trust him and tell him her deepest feeling . alonzo have a secret he do have arm but because he have two thumb and be responsible for a spate of robbery that occur whenever the circus stop he bind up his arm a the police will not suspect an armless man . nanon father be the ringmaster ( who may be responsible for her irrational fear ) and hat alonzo . in a heated scuffle alonzo choke him . he have be stroll around with his arm unbound . nanon see someone strangle her father a man with two thumb but she doesn not see his face . with her father dead and the circus break up and alonzo try to make a home for nanon . malabar will not give up his love for her . when alonzo threaten a doctor with exposure unless he amputate his arm and nanon finally lose her fear and learn to love malabar . even though the film i saw be around an hour in length part of the storyline be miss to do with this doctor . he know alonzo and the audience be suppose to know why there be also a cryptic note the knifethrower send him as well . when alonzo return and find his beloved almost marry to malabar and his insanity know no bound . once again lon chaney acting be superlative his facial expression be spellbind you really believe he be go mad . he secretly hatch a plan . malabar new act involve a show of strength where he be strap to gallop horse . if the gear be go too fast his arm will be tear from his body . my first impression on view this film be that i do not like it then a i think about it i realize it be a compelling if bizarre movie . norman kerry who be suppose to be the errol flynn of the 20 play malabar . lon chaney and joan crawford be the star to watch . i have already praise chaney act but the skill with which he use cutlery and light and smoke cigarette and to say nothing of throw knife and shoot pistol all with his foot be amaze . a young and beautiful joan crawford in one of her early film appearance play nanon . she act with assurance and polish . highly recommended .