This film is almost 100 years old, but it is one of the most thought-provoking and moving in the history of cinema.

Deformed creatures appear in the famous circus to prove themselves as fairground phenomena. Lilliputian Hans, betrothed to the dwarf rider Frida, is captivated by the beauty of the acrobat Cleopatra. Learning that her suitor has received a large sum of money, she decides to marry him and then poison him with the complicity of her lover Hercules. But the plot is discovered and Hans and Frida’s friends seek revenge…

The most informed moviegoers will obviously recognize the story of Freaks, a parade of disgust. An absolute and thrilling masterpiece released in 1932, the cursed film was severely cut by nearly 30 minutes, which also cost its director Tod Browning his career. Freaks It was even banned in many countries such as Italy, Finland, Ireland, certain states of the United States, as well as Great Britain, where it first appeared in 1963.

Casting fair phenomena Freaks All were sent to the real “monster fair” of the time. The Bearded Lady, Siamese Sisters, Skeleton Man, Arm Woman, Trunk Man and all the others are real artists from Barnum’s Circus.

“It hurts me as a person”

One of the strengths Freaks It is clearly a change of perspective. In this work, it is the “normal” creatures who are actually the monsters, even if they present themselves physically in a favorable light.

Shooting the film was also a terrible ordeal for actress Olga Baklanova, who plays Machiavelli’s Cleopatra: “Todd Browning gradually revealed the whole cast to me, and I couldn’t look at the photos. I wanted to cry when I saw them. They had such sweet faces… and they were so poor, you know…

There Todd told me: “Be brave and try not to lose it like the first time I showed you the photos, because you have to work with them.” This first time was very, very difficult. I was sick every night because I couldn’t look them in the face. And I feel very sorry for them. It hurts me as a person.”

He wasn’t the only one struck. When MGM president Louis B. Mayer saw the film’s cast on set and was so horrified that he tried to stop filming. It was the almighty producer Irving Thalberg who stopped him.

Below is one of the famous scenes from the movie; Wedding banquet between Cleopatra and Hans the dwarf as the audience sings “We’re taking it, one of us”. 92 years after the release of the film, it still makes you very uncomfortable…

Absolutely horrible ending

The ending of the film is both amazing and terrifying. While Hercules is finished, Cleopatra tries to escape into the forest in the middle of the night under the rain. The “monsters” of the circus follow him relentlessly. The only sounds we hear are the storm and Cleopatra’s terrified screams.

After it fades to black, we discover to our horror that it has become a new attraction: the Duck Woman. His tongue is cut out, his legs are cut out, one eye is cut out, his hands are so deformed that they look like webbed fingers in “gloves”. And, to better resemble his Weber-like model, his trunk is covered in feathers… and while the public is poring over its contents to contemplate him, he releases a kind of can, a duck cry.

Here’s the end again…

initially, Freaks Was 90 mins but was cut down to 64 mins for his run. Unfortunately, the original copy that caused so much controversy no longer exists. However, the story gives us an idea of ​​what was troubling society at the time. There was further footage of Cleopatra’s screams of agony as circus ‘monsters’ attacked her, followed by her body being found by horrified police.

In the original intended ending, Hercules was castrated and ended his life by singing falsetto in the circus. As for Cleopatra, in addition to the above observation, she saw her legs torn off by a falling tree during a storm before ending her existence as we know it in the montage.

92 years after its release, the strength of Freaks remains absolutely intact.