After director Tod Browning's big success at Universal with "Dracula", he was given freedom at MGM for his next film project. "Freaks" was the result, with its unusual cast of people with various birth defects, and its chilling finale involving poisoning and mutilation.
The film was too strong for contemporary audiences. After the previews went poorly, a half hour was cut (and unfortunately, lost). Still, "Freaks" was pulled from release after a few weeks. The film was a disaster for MGM, not just financially, but for the studio's image as well.
Today, "Freaks" has lost some of its ability to
shock audiences. But it is still startling to see
Johnny Eck, a man without a torso who walks
around using his hands, and Prince Randian, who
has no limbs at all. There's the Siamese twins,
Daisy and Violet Hilton, each married to a
different husband. And there's more: people
without arms, severely retarded pinheads, a
bearded lady, dwarves, and midgets Hans (Harry
Earles) and Frieda (Daisy Earles, Harry's
sister).
The 'freaks' are all part of a travelling circus.
Hans, who has inherited a fortune, has a crush on
Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova). Cleopatra, who is
normal-sized, decides to marry Hans for his
money, and then poison him. She is in cahoots
with venal strongman Hercules (Henry Victor). But
the closely-knit 'freaks' get wind of Cleopatra's
schemes, and plan an appropriately hideous
revenge.
Browning's message is that Hercules and Cleopatra
are the real 'freaks'. We should be judged by our
character and not our appearance. This message
was certainly lost on the 1932 general public,
but Browning has been subsequently vindicated.
Today, "Freaks" is considered a classic, and not
an exploitation film (unlike the embarrassing
1930s midget western "The Terror of Tiny Town").
While the 'freaks' exact a ruthless revenge, the
actions of Hercules and Cleopatra are so
despicable that they fully deserve their fate.
"Freaks" is a very good film, but it is not
outstanding. One of the minor "comic relief"
characters stutters, and perhaps Hercules and
Cleopatra are too crass to be credible. First
billed and all around good guy Phroso (Wallace
Ford) isn't interesting, while the character of
his girlfriend Venus (Leila Hyams) is muddled.
(78/100)
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