Movie review of Freaks

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Horrorphile - June 2007

Freaks

June 11th 2007 23:22

Freaks (1932) is a film with a great and troubled history. Director Tod Browning worked from a story called Spurs by Clarence Aaron ‘Tod’ Robbins, with several other uncredited writers, telling a dark and lurid tale of love and betrayal, loyalty and revenge.

At a circus carnival a barker exhibits the sideshow freak Feathered Hen and tells the gathered audience of her story: Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova), the trapeze artist is adored by Hans (Harry Earles), one of two midgets. Frieda (Daisy Earles), Hans’ fiancé, warns him she is only after his money. Cleopatra is having an affair with the circus strong man, Hercules (Henry Victor). Frieda lets slip that Hans has received an inheritance, and so Frieda and Hercules conspire for Frieda to marry Hans, then poison him, in order to acquire his wealth.

Cleopatra and Hans

During the wedding reception feast Cleopatra, who has been accepted by all of Hans and Frieda’s colleagues – that is, all the other circus freak attractions, becomes overwhelmed and disgusted by them all, and she openly mocks and ridicules Hans and the other freak performers. Hans realises the cruel trick that has been played upon him and thus incites revenge.

Hercules and Cleopatra

Hollywood studio giant MGM keen to capitalise on the success of the then popular horror genre had Tod Browning continue the horror streak he’d started with the adaptation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1931). When they saw the finished film of Freaks they freaked and the film was not given a proper theatrical release. Browning's career was badly damaged as a result.

The wedding feast

In the UK the movie was banned for thirty years. It was banned in Australia also. In America after the movie was withdrawn and shelved the rights were bought by a notorious exploitation entrepreneur who traveled the country exhibiting the movie under different names such as Nature’s Mistakes and Forbidden Love. Sometimes he’d screen reels of nudist camp footage as a further lurid accompaniment. In some states of America it is still illegal to screen the movie as the original law banning the film was never properly repealed.

Cleopatra sizes up Half Boy

Obviously the casting of real “freaks” gives the film an altogether lurid appeal; The Living Torso, The Bearded Lady, The Human Skeleton, Half-Boy, just to name a few. But it is the performances of the lead roles, especially those of the midgets, Hans and Frieda (played by real life brother and sister), which lift the movie well-above stock exploitation fare.

Duck Girl or Feathered Hen?

The film is also a pre-Hays Code production which means that there are scenes and dialogue which hint at sexuality, profanity and moral ambiguity that would never have been allowed after the ultra-strict Hays censorship Code was in place.

The movie is famous for its chilling end, during a storm, rain bucketing down as the freaks clamber and crawl after Cleopatra. The all descend upon her in a pre-echo of Romero’s zombies. The character of Hercules was castrated and ends up a soprano singer, but this scene was cut after initial audiences found it too appalling.

Director Tod Browning with his freaky cast

Freaks still maintains the power to shock, especially considering how old the movie is. A concise story about the corruption of compassion, with many moments of pure dramatic intensity and outlandish imagery which lingers in the mind long after the movie has finished. This is a movie that could never be remade, mostly due to the inherent ethical problem of casting real human anomalies. In a strange twist of irony, America has become a more conservative cinema society, and producing a mainstream remake of Freaks would be most difficult. The use of CGI would only make the film appear more manipulative and ultimately a far more dubious movie.

Here's the pivotal wedding feast scene:

* the images on this page are courtesy of www.olgabaclanova.com

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Brenton

June 11th 2007 23:36

Dr Spin
Tales From The Other Side
Downwrite
Blip Blog
Gadget Museum

I've seen bits of this - you're right, it's absolutely incredible.

Comment by Bryn

June 11th 2007 23:38

Horrorphile

Brenton, when watched in its entirety it's unlike anything you've ever seen ...

Comment by Damo

June 11th 2007 23:43

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

I so much love this film on so many levels.
It is a true horror film that sets out to tell a story and successfully does it.
"One of us..." is the key to the fear.
The film shows the humanity of the 'Freaks' over the inhumanity of the 'Normals' (or perhaps in pre Hitler world of popular Eugenics 'Super Humans.')
The audience identifies with the Freaks only to be asked if the caould ever be 'One of us.'
The psychological aspect of this when amplified through the sexual ambiguity would still be difficult to handle today.

Comment by MelissaA

June 12th 2007 02:55

Fun Facts

Nice to see a real 'oldie' up here!

Comment by JohnDoe

June 12th 2007 03:08

Film & TV on DVD

A masterpiece of horror,
What it has to say about superficial judgments and the evil of a belief in superiority is still haunting.

The imagery carves a nook in the brain where it nests for the remainder of your lifetime.

Comment by Terry

June 12th 2007 03:40

MysTerry's Mansion
Theatre of the mind

I love the original Freaks, I watched the remake (yes they remade it). I was horribly disapointed. The original was so much better.

Do not waste your time on the remake.

Hurdy Gur

Terry

Comment by Damo

June 12th 2007 03:51

For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics

Remake?
That would suck.

Comment by KylieW

June 12th 2007 06:11

Celebrity Obsession

Wow, I don't think I've ever heard of this movie. Sounds pretty impressive. I'd like to see it.

I can't believe that they have remade it. I may not have seen the original, but even I can tell that a remake of the movie would suck!

Comment by Bryn

June 12th 2007 07:21

Horrorphile

Remade it?? I didn't see that listed on imdb ...how strange? Was it under another title?

Cheers the comments everyone ... yeah, about time I reviewed a true olde classic! Stands the test of time indeed!

Comment by yoda76

June 12th 2007 13:39

The Tube Blog

Awesome. This film has been on my must-see for what seems like an eternity.

I'm never quite sure if it's because I haven' found it anywhere, or because I've been too unnerved to look for it too hard!

CG really has killed a lot of cinema's potential to frighten, hasn't it? I mean - I'm looking at some of those faces, and they look "CG". Amazing! This film made today (or remade!) would be nowhere near as disturbing.

Comment by Terry

June 12th 2007 18:56

MysTerry's Mansion
Theatre of the mind

They labeled it under Freakshow, but the story is the same as Freaks, they can call it whatever they want but it is a tawdry rip off of the classic.

Here's the linkFreakshow

Hurdy Gur

Terry

Comment by D. Armenta

June 12th 2007 22:59

The Florida Keys and Everglades
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Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

In total agreement with you, Bryn--this film could never be effectively remade.

A horror classic.

Comment by Bryn

June 12th 2007 23:39

Horrorphile

Cheers everyone! Great to see such a film has touched everyone!
Go the Freaks!
One of us!!!

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