lon chaney play alonzo and a supposedly armless knife thrower with a gypsy circus . he do have arm though ( one with two thumb ) he just strap them to himself . he then use his arm to rob jewel at the town they play in . he love nanon ( joan crawford ) . but he strangle her ridiculously cruel father to death one night . she doesn not see his face but notice one of the hand have two thumb . he have his arm amputate . but she fall for circus strongman maldabar ( norman kerry ) . not really a horror film ( a it often call ) . more of a tragedy . the plot be ok ( and not as convolute a my synopsis make it sound positive . ) and the direction be solid but uninspired ( tod browning have always be overrate ) . it worth see for chaney and crawford act . crawford be incredible so young and beautiful and full of life . chaney be just incredible the expression on his face when he try to hide his anger and sadness at kerry be truly extraordinary . he do carry on the sneer a little too much ( i start giggle at it towards the end ) but that a minor complaint . the only version i have see be on tcm and it be short ( less than an hour ) and but it the exact same one i saw back in the late 1980s when revival theatre be show it . and it seem complete to me there be no gap in story or continuity . so and well worth catch . one of chaney best .