Freaks is a 1932 horror film that tells the story of a normal-sized woman who marries a side show midget for his money, and has to face the other people who work the side show when she has an affair with the strong man, and mocks the other freaks in the show. It stars Olga Baclanova, Harry Earles and Henry Victor.

Among the other freaks are Schlitze the Pinhead Girl and the hermaphrodite Joseph/Josephine, with eir left/right divided hair, believed to be the inspiration for the hairstyle of Phil Oakey of the band Human League.

The movie was adapted by Al Boasberg, Willis Goldbeck, Leon Gordon and Edgar Allan Woolf from the novel Spurs by Tod Robbins. It was directed by Tod Browning. Browning took the exceptional step of casting real "freaks" (people with deformities), rather than using costumes and makeup.

Reaction to this film was so intense, Browning had trouble finding work afterwards. The movie was banned in the United Kingdom for thirty years.

The film has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.

Famous quote:

We accept you, one of us! Gooble Gobble!

External Link