In writing about film, one tries to avoid labeling any film as "unique." However, there has never been, there will likely never be, a film quite like Tod Browning's Freaks (1932). Set in a European freak show, cast with authentic human oddities from throughout North America, Freaks presents a side of circus life seldom witnessed on film. But what is more fascinating, these diminutive, misshapen and misunderstood carny denizens play out a diabolical fable of lust, murder and an unspeakably shocking revenge. Although many cities and viewers responded to the "freaks" with sheer disgust and moral outrage, Browning is completely sympathetic to them, and allows them to share the same emotions (love, lust, jealousy) and perform the same deeds (sexual banter, murder, marriage) as their glamorous counterparts.

Harry Earles (The Unholy Three [1925]) stars as Hans, a circus midget who has a crush on the beautiful acrobat, Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova). When Cleo and her brutish lover, the strongman Hercules (Henry Victor), discover Hans has inherited a fortune, Cleo marries Hans, and she and Hercules enact a plot to slowly poison Hans to death. But Cleo and Hercules fail to heed the code of self-preservation that binds the circus performers, and grossly underestimate the extent to which the "freaks" will go to protect one of their own.

After a disastrous preview screening, production head Irving Thalberg demanded that Freaks be thoroughly recut. Approximately 30 minutes were removed from the film -- without Browning's involvement. Contrary to popular belief, Thalberg did not recut Freaks to make it less of a horror movie. He made it more of a horror movie, by emphasizing the violence of the vengeful misfits and removing scenes that attempted to humanize them in the audience's eyes. Regardless of how one perceives Freaks -- as a cruel horror story; a poignant metaphor for the human condition; or a wicked attack upon a shallow culture that celebrates physical perfection (i.e. Hollywood) -- it is one of the very few films that, once seen, can never be forgotten.

Producer/Director: Tod Browning
Screenplay: Al Boasberg, Leon Gordon, Edgar Allan Woolf, Willis Goldbeck, based on the short story "Spurs" by Tod Robbins
Cinematography: Merritt B. Gerstad
Film Editing: Basil Wrangell
Cast: Wallace Ford (Phroso), Leila Hyams (Venus), Olga Baclanova (Cleopatra), Roscoe Ates (Roscoe), Harry Earles (Hans), Henry Victor (Hercules), Daisy Earles (Frieda), Rose Dione (Madame Tetrallini), Frances O'Connor (Frances the Turtle Girl).
BW-65m. Closed captioning.

by Bret Wood