i have probably watch maybe 25 silent film and this one certainly stand out a one of the best . lon chaney be more than a master of makeup or horror theatrics . he be also a great actor . 99 % of his film be silent . his parent be both deaf mute which mean lon would have have to use sign language to communicate with them . this translate into his performance with the stealthy manipulation of his hand for emotional effect . in this film and however and you would not see much of his hand . the plot concern a criminal go by the name of alonzo and how he have fool his fellow gypsy circus performer into believe he have no arm . the reason for this odd behavior be due to the fact he have a congenital birth defect which leave him with a double thumb on one hand and a trait easily identifiable to police . while work in the circus a a knife thrower ( he use his foot to throw the blade with great accuracy ) alonzo fall head over heel for nanon and the circus manager daughter . by a strange twist of fate and nanon be repulse at the thought of be touch by men and therefore and she find alonzo strangely attractive . while deal with his own problem of how to tell nanon he really isn not armless and he now have to contend with the strongman who also have develop feeling for the girl . alonzo convince the strongman to pursue nanon and believing that she will be turn off by the strongman big strong arm or hand . but and a alonzo faithful dwarf friend point out and nanon will eventually have to find out about alonzo secret and she might not understand or even be angry . so and alonzo devise a rather sick solution to his problem . he seek out a surgeon who he would be blackmail and order him to surgically remove his arm at the shoulder so the deception will become reality . i do not want to give away the end and but if you be familiar with chaney other character and you know how he usually find himself when the end appear on screen . of note be the new musical score and which be at time synthesized carnival theme or something you might hear in a music box and follow by theme heavily influence by italian and spanish tune . i wouldn not say the music be necessarily appropriate for the film and but it well orchestrate nonetheless . occasionally and drum and cymbal fill in for certain sound effect that one would expect if the film have an audio track . this be an excellent film for fan of chaney and todd browning and or those who enjoy a bit of body modification .