Freaks (1932)
As reviewed by Brian Koller
Grade: 78
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.
While Freaks is a very good film, 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.