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25 May 06, 10:25 AM - 1930's film Freaks now available online
Have you heard of , the 1932 cult film directed by Tod Browning? It's all about circus sideshow performers - the 'freaks' of the title - such as conjoined twins, an hermaphrodite, short people, those with no arms or no limbs, to name but a few. The most memorable thing about the movie at the time it was released was that the characters were played by people who actually had those "deformities" (hey, that's the film's own description, not ours), rather than using costumes and make-up.
Those who have seen the movie never fail to have a strong opinion about it - whether they think it's a masterpiece of shock cinema, an important moment in the history of disability on film, or an outdated and hugely politically incorrect work that should be discarded to the dustbin of history.
Well, if you haven't seen Freaks, you've now got the chance to watch it online. The new Google Video service is offering it to view in its . You can also read the complete . Time to decide on this cult film for yourself. (Link via .)
Comment
At 08:41 PM on 25 May 2006, wrote:
I've been meaning to see that film for some time but it won't be online because my connection is too slow. Although I haven't seen it, I don't think it should be "discarded to the dustbin of history" because even if it is politically incorrect, there is still something to learn from it-how people perceived and reacted to disability at the time.
The reaction was apparently a strong one. Browning's career was wrecked after he made that film. On a biographical note, Browning was also the director of Dracula (the original with Bela Lugosi) and spent time in traveling carnivals in his youth.
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At 08:42 PM on 25 May 2006, wrote:
I've been meaning to see that film for some time but it won't be online because my connection is too slow. Although I haven't seen it, I don't think it should be "discarded to the dustbin of history" because even if it is politically incorrect, there is still something to learn from it-how people perceived and reacted to disability at the time.
The reaction was apparently a strong one. Browning's career was wrecked after he made that film. On a biographical note, Browning was also the director of Dracula (the original with Bela Lugosi) and spent time in traveling carnivals in his youth.
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At 05:52 PM on 29 May 2006, Rachel Knight wrote:
I have seen the film Freaks. First time around I found it disturbing, second time around I found it interesting, to see the cultural changes since 1932. Yes, massively politically incorrect by 2006 standards, but in 1932 one of the few ways disabled individuals could make a living. Yes they were all played by genuinely disabled individuals, although I was never sure about the gentlement without legs. He seemed to stop at his belly button, and I am not sure that he would actually be able to be alive. Not that I know.
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