Directed by Tod Browning in 1932, Freaks starred real circus performers with disabilities. It showed their characters as fully human with relationships and feelings, challenging audiences to view them as equal. Though initially banned, it has since been rediscovered and is considered culturally significant for advancing representation. The film took place in a traveling circus, where Cleo plots to poison her fiancé Hans after leaving him for a wealthy man, but the "freaks" enact revenge on her for her cruelty.

1. Directed by Tod Browning

2. A 1932
MGM Film
Production

3. STARING

4. Johnny Eck

5. Daisy & Harry Earles

6. Daisy & Violet Hilton

7. Schlitzie

8. Minnie Woosley

9. Prince Randian

10. In the Moving Picture

11. The Movie 'Freaks'

Produced by Tod Browning, who traveled with the
Circus.

Filed in 1932

Banned out of the UK for 30 years.

Forced people to view those with a disability as
'human' having true emotions and feelings.

Showed that people with 'deformities' had a real life,
could love, get married, earn a living.

Audience of the time was not ready, received
criticism and flopped.

12. Plot-Line Overview

Setting takes place in a traveling circus, where actors
are all performers (in real life and in the movie).

Hans breaks off engagement to Frieda to be with
'normal height' Cleopatra.

Cleo plots to marry Hans only for money, and is
secretly in love with Hercules

Cleo poisons Hans, but he is wise to her.

Ending scene where actors take revenge against
Cleo.

13. A 'Freaky Come-Back'

1960's, the film was rediscovered and re-
furbished and shown nightly in drive-ins.

1983 an 'owe to' Freaks was created, many
cast started in this series.

1994, United States National Film Registry
states, ''"culturally, historically, or aesthetically
significant"

Has made American Film Institutes 100
movies for song, acting and more.

14. My own perceptions..

Thought it would be degrading/exploitative.

20 min's through the movie, I found it was
NOT degrading/exploitative.

Actors were portrayed as human, with
relationships, feelings/emotions, capable, kind
and fun.

Ex. Siamese twins; one engaged and one
dating.

15. Niche Hollywood Horror Flick

Two scenes taken too far; ending and
engagement dinner.

Involvement of 'normal' people, who actually
end up being the 'Freaks'.

16. A Clip of the Beginning..
A clip of the movie

17. .
The Real Lives Behind the Story...
Johnny Eck, business owner,
magician, wood worker,
performer, and employer of twin
brother.
He died at
the age of
79.
He challenged
those who did
When asked if
he wished he
had legs, he
quipped, "Why
would I want
those? Then I'd
have pants to
press."

18. Prince Randian

Devot ed
Husband,
Fat her of
Four,
Business
man,
Perf ormer,
Fluent in

19. Doll Family

Successful actors,
performers.
Purchased a home
in California and the
home was often in
magazines as an
example of 'small
furniture' and
alterations.

20. Schlitzie
Well known performer
and actor, landed
many rolls in films
throughout his
career. No one knew
his real name or who
his parents were. He
loved to perform and
passed away at the
age of 70.

21. Not all Stories are Happy..
Daisy and Violet Hilton,
sold at a young age to a
woman who made
money off their
performances. Success
was fleeting, as were
marriages and affairs.
They were left at a gas
station by a manager in
'61. They died two to
four days apart.