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Freaks

  • 1932
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 4m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
48K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,429
233
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.

  • Director
    • Tod Browning
  • Writers
    • Clarence Aaron 'Tod' Robbins
    • Willis Goldbeck
    • Leon Gordon
  • Stars
    • Wallace Ford
    • Leila Hyams
    • Olga Baclanova
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    48K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    4,429
    233
    • Director
      • Tod Browning
    • Writers
      • Clarence Aaron 'Tod' Robbins
      • Willis Goldbeck
      • Leon Gordon
    • Stars
      • Wallace Ford
      • Leila Hyams
      • Olga Baclanova
    • 306User reviews
    • 164Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Warner Archive Trailer
    Trailer 1:09
    Watch Warner Archive Trailer

    Photos361

    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
      • Willis Goldbeck
      • Leon Gordon
    • 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 reviews306

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Disturbing & Thought Provoking
    The subject of human disability is still a taboo subject in Cinema, even over 70 years since this film's release.

    It's difficult to imagine what impact this film would have had in the 1930's, but as it still has the ability to shock ( through the images of bodily deformity ) I can understand why many shunned and disowned this work, and why it totally ruined Todd Browning's film career.

    The basic premise - that beauty is more than skin deep - can appear to be wielded with a sledgehammer, but perhaps the contemporary audience needed to be hit harder in order to make them understand the point.

    The film is short ( due to enforced cuts ), and at times can move rather slowly and can appear rather 'stagey' which is a trait of many films from the 20's / 30's.

    But don't let that put you off. The plot is simple, but it's the telling of the story rather than the story itself that is important. And you really do need to remind yourself that these are real people - not actors - and this was the live they led.

    I rate it 9 outa 10 because they really don't make them like this any more.
    helpful•59
    13
    • Iron Horse
    • Oct 9, 2003

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    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(Studio)
    • 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

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