Freaks (1932) is on TCM

[progressoid]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022913/

http://boingboing.net/2008/08/01/freaks-1933-tod-brow.html

From Julie Ng's review at 11th Hour:

What always amazes me every time I watch it is its darkness, its audacity and well, the very fact that it even got released at all. Especially in the Production Code era of cinema. Despite the fact that some places did ban it and that MGM foolishly hacked out parts of it that are now lost forever, Freaks still got away with a lot, for its time. I'm not only talking about the casting of real so-called freaks, or of the implied violence, but of the racy dialogue and double entendres littered throughout the film. I once read a guy's review that compared his experience of watching Freaks with a watching a good porno movie. I won't go that far, because I think it's much smarter than any kind of smut, but its exploitative qualities are sort of similar. You are repulsed by what you are seeing, yet fascinatingly allured at the same time.

You may love this movie for its compassion towards the imperfections of nature, or you may believe it to be a sadistic and excessive piece of trash. And that, dear readers, is the real beauty and staying power of Freaks.
The Ramones' trademark phrase "Gabba gabba hey!" came from Freaks.

[progressoid]

1. ...

[alphafemale]

2. fun movie nt

[6000eliot]

3. One of us. One of us. One of us.

[Tom Ripley]

4. "Dressed like a priest you was/ Tod Browning's freak you was"

Courtesy of Mr Bowie

[progressoid]

6. Thanks Tom

I didn't know about that reference. Of course, I haven't listened to that song for years and I didn't always pay attention to the words back then. :eyes:

[nolabear]

5. I've always been astonished by this movie.

It truly was stereotype-bending. And I agree about the horror and allure. It may have been the genesis of my interest in people who exhibited themselves. In some ways it was the best of a terrible series of choices, in some it was a way to have money and power rather than incapacity and scorn.