Freaks

Starring: Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams, Olga Baclanova, Harry Earles
Written by: Clarence Aaron "Tod" Robbins, Willis Goldbeck, Leon Gordon

Director: Tod Browning
Year: 1932

Rating: * * 1/2    Stars       +       (Fan Bonus *   )  Total: * * * 1/2

Stare at them, mock them, shriek at them. Just don't betray them.

The story of Freaks centers around a dwarf named Hans who is engaged to marry fellow dwarf Frieda. Yet from the beginning, it's clear that Hans is enamored with the beautiful trapeze artist Cleopatra. Cleopatra enjoys leading him on, able to get money from him all the while laughing at him behind his back. Frieda confronts her letting her know that she cannot make Hans as happy as Cleopatra could, and is willing to let go of him so long as she has Han's best interests at heart. She lets it slip that Hans is due to inherit a large fortune. This causes Cleopatra and her strongman boyfriend Hercules to hatch a plot where she marries him, than poisons him.  When the other freaks learn what's going on, they exact a revenge on the would be murderers that's chilling to the bone. 

Perhaps one of the most compelling horror films of its day. Tod Browning, who brought great success to Universal Studios with Dracula, gets lured away to MGM studios to direct Freaks. What MGM got was a film that completely flopped in the theaters, not because it was a bad film, but completely ahead of its time. First was Tod's decision to cast real life freaks, including a half dozen "pin heads", a conjoined twin, a bearded lady, a woman with no arms, a man with no legs, several dwarves and midgets, and a torso man (no arms or legs). The film expertly showcases these freaks in their daily struggles and achievements with life, love, and getting by. For example, Roscoe, a man with a peculiar stuttering problem, is engaged to marry Daisy, but has to deal with her conjoined sister Violet who's dating another man. We see the human torso struggle to do something as simple as light a cigarette. And let's not forget the lovable pin heads, who are adults with the minds of children.This did not sit well with audiences or critics of the time as it was just "too much" for them to deal with. In fact, in the UK, it was banned for 30 years. One viewer wrote in, "to put such creatures in a film and before the public is unthinkable." Premiere voted this film as one of "the 25 most dangerous movies." 

There is a clear morality play going on, and several "norms" fill in these rolls. Some, like Hercules, Cleopatra, and a few stage hands mock the freaks and treat them with disdain. Others, like Venus, Phroso, and Madame Tetrallini treat them as friends, with respect and dignity. In the end, the film showcases the freaks in a positive light. They appear fragile and helpless, yet are able to protect themselves and each other. The real disdain is how we are capable of viewing them. To look away from them is to look away at the freakish nature of ourselves and our perceptions of what is normal.

Sadly, time has not been kind to this film. Age, combined with poor audio quality of the era causes some dialogue to be undecipherable. Still, the performances and powerful message resonate today. This is truly a masterpiece film worthy of viewing if you've never seen it before. It has also gained a small cult following who've begun appreciating Browning's vision some 60 years later.

SEE THE TRAILER: Freaks