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Freaks (1932)

UNRATED 64 min  -  Drama | Horror  -   20 February 1932 (USA)
7.9
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Ratings: 7.9/10 from 18,710 users  
Reviews: 221 user | 125 critic

A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance.

Director:

Tod Browning
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1 win & 1 nomination See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Wallace Ford Wallace Ford ...
Phroso
Leila Hyams ...
Venus
Olga Baclanova ...
Roscoe Ates Roscoe Ates ...
Roscoe (as Rosco Ates)
Henry Victor Henry Victor ...
Hercules
Harry Earles Harry Earles ...
Daisy Earles Daisy Earles ...
Rose Dione Rose Dione ...
Madame Tetrallini
Daisy Hilton Daisy Hilton ...
Violet Hilton Violet Hilton ...
Schlitze Schlitze ...
Himself
Josephine Joseph Josephine Joseph ...
Half Woman-Half Man
Johnny Eck Johnny Eck ...
Half Boy
Frances O'Connor Frances O'Connor ...
Armless Girl
Peter Robinson Peter Robinson ...
Human Skeleton
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Storyline

A carnival barker displays a sideshow freak called the Feathered Hen and tells her story. Cleopatra, a trapeze artist with the carnival, is adored by a dwarf named Hans. Frieda, Hans' fiancée (also a dwarf), warns Hans that Cleopatra is only interested in him so that he will give her money. Cleopatra has an affair with Hercules, and when Frieda lets it slip that Hans is to come into an inheritance, Cleopatra and Hercules plan to get the money be having Cleopatra marry Hans. During the wedding reception, Cleopatra, although openly romantic with Hercules, is accepted by the freaks, but is revolted and mocks them. The freaks decide that they no longer need Hercules in their carnival and have a new career for Cleopatra all lined up, and make sure she doesn't "chicken" out. Written by Rick Gregory <rag.apa@email.apa.org>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Freak | Trapeze Artist | Circus | Poison | Sideshow  | See more »

Taglines:

"We'll Make Her One of Us!" from the gibbering mouths of these weird creatures came this frenzied cry... no wonder she cringed in horror... this beautiful woman who dared toy with the love of one of them! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Horror

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German (some dialogue) | French

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Forbidden Love See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$310,607 (estimated)
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Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Dwarf John George - for reasons unknown - does not appear in "Freaks", even though a role was specifically written for him in the screenplay. See more »

Goofs

Continuity: Hercules rushes out of the wagon in pursuit of Josephine/Joseph, hot on his/her heels, but when Cleopatra looks out the window a moment later, Josephene/Joseph is leaning casually against a wagon applying makeup. He/she would not have had time to relax and get out a compact in that short amount of time. See more »

Quotes

Hans: Dummkopf! What have you on your shoulders for heads? Swiss cheese?
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Connections

Referenced in End of the Century (2003) See more »