Bound by Flesh

A documentary that explores the origins and heyday of the American sideshow.

Although most of this is the biography of the Hilton Sisters (who, it turns out, were not Hiltons at all), it also veers off into talking about the 1893 World's Fair, the evolution of the midway, vaudeville, and more. If you entered into this knowing nothing about sideshows and circus freaks, you will probably leave a little bit more aware.

The film runs a tad long at 90 minutes, as the story of the sisters is not quite as interesting as you might expect. The story is not boring, but it is quite limited, and keeps the viewer wondering why these women were connected. With no shared bones or organs, it seems at some point a surgeon would have come forward to liberate them. But no.

This often fascinating, 90-minute documentary faithfully chronicles the life and times of conjoined twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton who certainly had both their fair share of highs and lows (starting right from the very first month that they were born).

Daisy and Violet were ruthlessly exploited as freaks and, as such, put on display in carnival sideshows for the humiliating entertainment of countless curiosity seekers.

All-in-all - "Bound By Flesh" is certainly a one-of-a-kind documentary that leaves the viewer with quite a lasting impression regarding one very distracting aspect of the human experience.

Reviewed by Larry Gleeson. Viewed at the AFI Fest 2012 on November 2nd, 2102, Chinese Mann Theatre. Bound by Flesh, directed by the affable Leslie Zemeckis, tells the story of conjoined twins who were fused at the hips and buttocks, shared circulation but shared no major organs yet, shared almost every conceivable aspect of their lives together from birth to marriage and finally even death. The girls, often referred to as the "Hilton twins" were sold by their mother/guardian into the entertainment industry and thus began a long eventful and full life as the girls were hugely successful in vaudeville, somewhat successful in burlesque and not quite so successful in film. The girls were quite attractive and had stage presence and attracted large audiences with a minimal of talent. The girls knew how to entertain. Yet, despite their huge success as performers the girls wound up pretty much penniless and at the kindness of church members at the end of their lives due to managers taking advantage and exploiting the girls for financial gain. The girls fought back as girls will do and won an emancipation lawsuit and were awarded $100,000 in their attempt to have normal lives. They were successful in court and began to manage their own affairs. Unfortunately, while the girls knew how to entertain, they didn't understand the business of entertainment and fell into several business deals that bore no fruit. Despite themselves, the girls continued to entertain and began performing at supermarket openings and at community events. While, their earnings fell off markedly, the girls ineffable spirit of being together always shone forth much like the spotlight from their younger years performing together in vaudeville.

Zemeckis tells the Hilton twins story in a mostly compelling manner. During the conversation following the viewing , Zemeckis revealed her three state, fifteen day whirlwind shooting schedule. Her flawless use of present day interviews revealed as much about the characters being interviewed as it did about the girls and the time period in which they performed. With her exquisite use of the interview of primary sources I felt as though I ad taken a step back in time as I watched playwright, John Bramhall of "Daisy and Violet" provide a testimony of the girls dynamic stage presence with long mutton chops and an Old West medallion placed on his breast giving a spit'n'image of lawman Wyatt Earp. In addition to the primary interviews, Zemeckis added recorded sound bites of the girls in their youth, a multitude of black and white photographs, and eye pleasing modern day graphics. I thoroughly enjoyed the Zemeckis documentary, Bound by Flesh and recommend the film to any film buff and to anyone interested in the history of vaudeville and burlesque. Zemeckis knows how to tell a story and not just on the screen.

This documentary is anything but a feel-good film! It's the story of a real set of conjoined twins--the Hiltons. And, unfortunately, their lives together were rather sad. When the film begins, it's near the beginning of the 20th century and a woman gives birth to the twins, Daisy and Violet. However, instead of caring for her girls, the mother essentially sells them and the new owner of the girls, 'Aunt Mary' begins exploiting the crap out of them--taking them to freak shows and the like throughout the UK and Australia. Eventually, they end up in America and by now are the property of the daughter of Aunt Mary and her husband. And, once again, they are abused and pushed into the freak show circuit. Eventually, the girls tire of the maltreatment and sue to gain their independence. You'd think things would get better for them--but it didn't. What follows is a long spiral into poverty and sadness.

Despite being an awfully depressing film, it is well made and engrossing. In many ways, it's like a train wreck--something you cannot help but stare at in wonder.

They say that - "Within every black cloud there is a silver lining" - Well - After viewing "Bound By Flesh" - I, for one, don't believe that this flippant, little expression holds much water.

Through archival footage, countless stills, and informed interviews - "Bound By Flesh" is an intriguing, thought-provoking documentary that takes a close-up look at the highs and the lows of the lives of Daisy and Violet Hilton who were conjoined twins.

Born in Brighton Beach, England (1908) - Daisy and Violet were already being exploited because of their "abnormality", as freaks, at the super-young age of just 1 month.... And the worst was yet to come for these 2 very vulnerable, naive, and gullible girls.

Impressively directed by Leslie Zemeckis - "Bound By Flesh" is, without question, a sad, eye-opening, real-life human-experience that is guaranteed to stay with you long after the final credits have rolled by.