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IMDbPro

Freaks

  • 19321932
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
46K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,308
9
Olga Baclanova, Harry Earles, and Henry Victor in Freaks (1932)
Watch Warner Archive Trailer
Play trailer1:09
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaHorror
A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
46K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
5,308
9
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Tod Browning
    • Writers
      • Clarence Aaron 'Tod' Robbins(suggested by story: "Spurs")
      • Willis Goldbeck(screenplay)
      • Leon Gordon(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Wallace Ford
      • Leila Hyams
      • Olga Baclanova
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Tod Browning
    • Writers
      • Clarence Aaron 'Tod' Robbins(suggested by story: "Spurs")
      • Willis Goldbeck(screenplay)
      • Leon Gordon(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Wallace Ford
      • Leila Hyams
      • Olga Baclanova
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 304User reviews
    • 174Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Warner Archive Trailer
    Trailer 1:09
    Warner Archive Trailer

    Photos349

    Jerry Austin, Tod Browning, Johnny Eck, Elizabeth Green, Martha Morris, Peter Robinson, Olga Roderick, Schlitze, Elvira Snow, and Jenny Lee Snow in Freaks (1932)
    Olga Baclanova, Daisy Earles, Harry Earles, and Henry Victor in Freaks (1932)
    Jerry Austin, Tod Browning, Johnny Eck, Elizabeth Green, Josephine Joseph, Peter Robinson, Olga Roderick, Schlitze, Elvira Snow, and Jenny Lee Snow in Freaks (1932)
    Olga Baclanova and Harry Earles in Freaks (1932)
    Freaks (1932)
    Roscoe Ates, Daisy Hilton, and Violet Hilton in Freaks (1932)
    Josephine Joseph in Freaks (1932)
    Olga Baclanova and Harry Earles in Freaks (1932)
    Roscoe Ates, Daisy Hilton, and Violet Hilton in Freaks (1932)
    Edward Brophy, Josephine Joseph, and Matt McHugh in Freaks (1932)
    Matt McHugh and Prince Randian in Freaks (1932)
    Freaks (1932)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Wallace Ford
    Wallace Ford
    • Phroso
    Leila Hyams
    Leila Hyams
    • Venus
    Olga Baclanova
    Olga Baclanova
    • Cleopatra
    Roscoe Ates
    Roscoe Ates
    • Roscoe
    • (as Rosco Ates)
    Henry Victor
    Henry Victor
    • Hercules
    Harry Earles
    Harry Earles
    • Hans
    Daisy Earles
    Daisy Earles
    • Frieda
    Rose Dione
    Rose Dione
    • Madame Tetrallini
    Daisy Hilton
    Daisy Hilton
    • Siamese Twin
    Violet Hilton
    Violet Hilton
    • Siamese Twin
    Schlitze
    Schlitze
    • Pin Head
    Josephine Joseph
    Josephine Joseph
    • Half Woman-Half Man
    Johnny Eck
    Johnny Eck
    • Half Boy
    Frances O'Connor
    Frances O'Connor
    • Armless Girl
    Peter Robinson
    Peter Robinson
    • Human Skeleton
    Olga Roderick
    Olga Roderick
    • Bearded Lady
    Koo Koo
    Koo Koo
    • By Herself
    Prince Randian
    Prince Randian
    • The Living Torso
    • (as Rardion)
    • Director
      • Tod Browning
    • Writers
      • Clarence Aaron 'Tod' Robbins(suggested by story: "Spurs")
      • Willis Goldbeck(screenplay)
      • Leon Gordon(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The on-screen romance between Hans and Frieda was very subdued because the roles were being played by real life brother and sister Harry Earles and Daisy Earles.
    • Goofs
      In the first shot after the "Wedding Feast" title card, we see Violet Hilton & Daisy Hilton playing soprano saxophones, but we only hear a harmonica being played.
    • Quotes

      Freaks: We accept you, one of us! Gooble Gobble!

    • Alternate versions
      Reissue prints included a two-and-a-half minute written prologue about historical interpretations and contemporary studies of "misshapen misfits." These same prints remove the MGM Lion (the studio having disowned the film for many years).
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Le contrôle de l'univers (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Gruesome Tales
      (uncredited)

      Music by William Axt and Erno Rapee

    User reviews304

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Timeless and Touching Tale of Outcasts
    It's interesting to me that this film is viewed as offensive. People say that these people are being made fun of and exploited. I wouldn't like to comment on how they were treat on set or anything but I will say that they all see to enjoying them selfs for the most part and as for being made fun of, I think the total opposite is happening.

    This movie came out in 1932 so before I watched it I also was nervous that these people would be used to make others laugh at their expense but it was the furthest thing from the truth. This film hands its subject matter with such care and deft that I was astounded that it came out in 1932.

    It can be like looking at window into the past as sometimes it almost plays like a documentary due to the fact that most of these actors were actually circus performers. There are so many scenes where the performers are just relaxing and chatting to each other. It shows people they are just like us, it doesn't mater if they look different. It shows them doing mundane things like hanging washing, struggling with problems like infidelity. It shows ignorant people that they are human just like you.

    I think the title "Freaks" is interesting. I think there is two ways to look at it. The first way is the obvious and offensive way demeaning the performers but I think by the end of the film the only freaks in this movie are the people who look normal. The movie shows this makeshift family coming together for each other, the only people who are outcasts are the able bodied "normal people". I think that is one way to interpret it any way or maybe I am reading into it.

    That is the interesting thing about this movie. You can read a lot into it and it is never clear what the director was really trying to say as another interesting part is all of the performers are shown to be good people, kind people for the most part friendly and loving. Once again the only truly evil people in this movie are the people who are able bodied people. The reason I lean to the side of the director was showing these people are simply just people is it is framed as shocking and wrong when bad things happen to the performers and I don't think it is ever played for laughs.

    It also really bothers me that this movie is labelled a horror movie. It is a drama. There isn't really any horror elements to be found.

    One more thing I just want to point out is that I am astounded how much Ryan Murphy took from this movie for season 4 of American Horror Story. Like I think his only reference point for "freak shows" was this movie. Just a stray observation.

    So I would say definitely watch this movie. It is only short as it was cut down due to the fact people believed it was too outrageous and offensive. It has a lot of heart and is really head of it's time.
    helpful•37
    0
    • Neon_Gold
    • May 25, 2020

    FAQ5

    • What is 'Freaks' about?
    • Is "Freaks" based on a book?
    • Are the freaks real or just actors in costumes?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 20, 1932 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Forbidden Love
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $310,607 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,072
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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