Freaks Overview:

Freaks (1932) was a Horror - Black-and-white Film directed by Tod Browning and produced by Irving Thalberg, Tod Browning, Dwain Esper, Harry Rapf and Hildegarde Stadie.

Freaks was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1994.

BlogHub Articles:

Freaks (1932): We’re All Sideshow Attractions

By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 8, 2023 From 4 Star Films

One of the personal details of Tod Browning’s life was his adolescence spent working in the circus. This gives him an accessibility to the material that some other less-attuned director might have lacked. And yet there’s little denying Freaks is a genuine showpiece when it comes to turni... Read full article


Legends of Tomorrow (2016) s05e12 – Freaks and Greeks

on May 13, 2020 From The Stop Button

And, now, in the ?they all can?t be winners? category, we have Freaks and Greeks, which sends the Legends to Hudson University to steal a chalice from a frat. It?s not a frat in 1979. It?s a frat in 2020, run by special guest star Drew Ray Tanner; he?s Greek party god Dionysus, who?s finally found ... Read full article


Freaks (1932): Horror?

By Carol Martinheira on Oct 30, 2018 From The Old Hollywood Garden

Freaks (1932): Horror? On October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 By CarolIn Uncategorized I mean, sure, the final moments are some of the scariest and most macabre in film history, but Freaks (1932) far transcends the horror genre. In fact, it has been widely described as a ... Read full article


Monstros / Freaks (1932)

By L? on Jul 9, 2016 From Critica Retro

Monstros / Freaks (1932) O ano era 2009, e eu era uma rec?m-chegada no mundo do cinema. Tinha 16 anos e era f?cil de impressionar. N?o sei por que abri uma lista com o t?tulo “os 10 filmes mais impressionantes da hist?ria”. L?, na 10? posi??o, uma imagem j? me assustou: o Homem-To... Read full article


Classic Films in Focus: FREAKS (1932)

By Jennifer Garlen on Oct 31, 2014 From Virtual Virago

Tod Browning made a lasting mark on the horror genre with Dracula (1931), but Freaks (1932) is by far the stranger and more inventive of the two films. The director had explored the circus before with Lon Chaney silents like The Unholy Three (1925) and The Unknown (1927), as well The Show (1927) wit... Read full article


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Quotes from

Roscoe: I'm not going to have my wife laying in bed half the day with one of your hangovers.


Phroso: Schlitze your a real man,s woman.


[referring to a "half-man/half-woman" who has given Hercules an alluring look]
Roscoe: I think she likes you - but he don't.


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Facts about

Numerous other bits of dialog were removed that depicted the "normal" humans as disgusting creatures and the "freaks" as gentle and sympathetic (destroying the social critique of intolerance Tod Browning was attempting to construct). While the circus awaits word on Hans's declining health, one of the Rollo Brothers coldly remarks, "You'd think the world was coming to an end - just because a mangy freak's got a hangover." In another scene, Madame Tetrallini responds to the Rollos' taunts by defending the humanity of her "children," "Augh, you cochons - you beasts... They are better than you - all of them - you two dogs!"
According to the screenplay, the scene in which Madame Tetrallini introduces the wandering land-owner to the performers frolicking in the woods ran quite a bit longer. It included additional dialog that endeavored to humanize the so-called freaks. She tells him they are "always in hot, stuffy tents - strange eyes always staring at them - never allowed to forget what they are." Duval responds sympathetically (clearly the stand-in for the viewing audience), "When I go to the circus again, Madame, I'll remember," to which she adds, "I know, M'sieu - you will remember seeing them playing - playing like children... Among all the thousands who come to stare - to laugh - to shudder - you will be one who understands."
Was originally banned in Australia.
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National Film Registry

Freaks

Released 1932
Inducted 1994
(Sound)




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Also directed by Tod Browning




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Also produced by Irving Thalberg




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Also released in 1932




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More "Pre-Code Cinema" films



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More "Circus" films



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More "Book-Based" films



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