I made a video going into more detail here if anyone likes that type of thing.
I recently re-watched Tod Browning's Freaks and despite the title feeling insensitive by today's standards, I feel the film didn't get the credit it deserves when it was released back in the 1930s for being such a progressive film. It's a morality tale about how beauty is skin deep and true beauty is something inside - the differently abled circus performers are the characters we empathise and sympathise with, especially a character called Hans who, despite being taken for granted and poisoned by Cleopatra, the trapeze artist he fell in love with and married, he really just wanted to forgive her (and didn't wish on the violence that actually does happen in the end).
There's quite a lot to make audiences consider a perspective other than their own regarding the differently abled: a group of the circus performers, when unneeded for work, are playing in the sunlight to music, only to be harassed by a passer by who shows his hate and prejudice towards these people. It's such a shame that a film like this was received poorly and even banned because audiences couldn't handle the message and only just proved the film's message correct when the audiences themselves felt prejudice at seeing differently abled people represented on the screen.
What does r/flicks think of this film? Have you seen it? What do you think? If you haven't seen it, is it something that ever interested you? It's quite an old film but I feel it's an important one to talk about when there's a lot to be discussed in movies now about diverse representation.
I recently re-watched Tod Browning's Freaks and that film was way ahead of its time. At the time it got banned and people really hated it, but since then it's become a classic film and I totally see why.
It cast differently abled performers as the circus performers and the differently abled people were shown positively while other more able bodied characters were shown to be prejudice and malicious (definitely when you look at Hans, a character who falls in love with an able bodied trapeze artist called Cleopatra but is unfortunately manipulated and poisoned so she can get Hans' inheritance money). It's like a classic tale about morality, outside beauty is only skin deep, especially if the beautiful person intends to try and kill someone for inheritance money. Despite Hans being poisoned, he's still a very forgiving person who only wants to confront Cleopatra rather than hurt her.
Anyone here watched it? I made a little video about the film for anyone interested too. What does r/movies think of Tod Browning's Freaks? Have you seen it? If not, is it something you would watch?
I made a video going into more detail than my post for those who enjoy this type of content.
I recently re-watched Tod Browning's Freaks and I can't help but admire it. It's a real shame that it was received poorly during its original release and that it was even banned (albeit, banned way before I was born, but it's a shame to see how this film went unappreciated, proving the film's intention).
Casting actual circus performers in the film, it provides a morality tale with a universal theme that beauty is only skin deep. True inner beauty is explored with the character Hans who falls in love with a beautiful trapeze artist named Cleopatra and that, even after Cleopatra manipulates and literally poisons Hans for his inheritance money, he really wishes to just confront her with a forgiving attitude.
The film establishes early on that, due to the prejudices that differently abled circus performers have experienced (for example, early on a scene shows some of the performers dancing in the sunlight only to be harassed by a hateful able-bodied passer-by), they stick together and protect each other, developing a sense of community. For example, when the circus' bearded lady gives birth to a healthy baby, the performers are happy for her. This sense of community extends to the finale when the other performers, on Hans' behalf (without his asking), get revenge. An eye for an eye.
Outside of the violent climax though, the film shows an admiring and sympathetic respect for the differently abled. What does r/TrueFilm think of this film? Do you enjoy it like I do too? Would love to hear different opinions on this film, always appreciate what this subreddit has to say. :)
Looking at you Arrow Video or Scream Factory. 👀. The 2004 DVD is OOP and we are due for a more definitive edition.
I would imagine Freaks would be a highly demanded film from the horror community. It is pretty infamous. The Universal Monsters had multiple successful Blu Ray releases the past three years. Thought it would follow suit.
I had a DVD copy of this a while ago, but the sound/picture quality was poor. I guess whoever put it out just saw a chance to make some dough from a public domain film and didn't care about any kind of quality. It seems to me that a unique film like this would be ideal for a Criterion treatment, and I'd love to see a full restoration of this movie on blu ray.
There's no blu for this film, and I feel like it deserves a high quality restoration. Plus all of the supplements that could be put together for this film, it being so influential, as well as the history behind the film, I think there would be a ton to explore. Now that Night of the Living Dead seems a sure thing, Freaks seems a necessity to me for legendary horror films that deserve a great edition.
Fell down a youtube hole and discovered that Tod Browning, flush off of his success with 1931's Dracula was given the blank check and cashed it in to make Freaks. I think this must be the ultimate blank check because it ended his career, the film getting banned in the UK and a lawsuit from a woman claiming the ending gave her a miscarriage. Even reshooting the ending wasn't enough to save Mr. Browning's career. Thoughts?
The 1931 Dracula was intended primarily as a sound film, but it was released at a time when not every theater had sound yet, so an alternate silent cut was made for theaters that weren't equipped for talkies. The silent version has since been lost. Has anyone ever tried to recut it into a silent movie with intertitles and such to replicate how the alternate version would have played?
