Sunday, March 20, 2005
"We didn't lie to you folks. We told you we had living, breathing monstrosities. You laughed at them, shuddered at them, and yet, but for the accident of birth, you might be even as they are. They did not ask to be brought into the world, but into the world they came. Their code is a law unto themselves. Offend one, and you offend them all.
And now, folks, if you'll just step this way, you are about to witness the most amazing, the most astounding living monstrosity of all time. (Woman screams.) Friends, She was once a beautiful woman. A royal prince shot himself for love of her. She was known as the peacock of the air..."
And so begins the movie, Freaks. It's a film created way back in 1932. It was banned for forty years and is still banned in Sweden. It was directed Tod Browning. Tod Browning was fresh off his hit Dracula and was challenged to make the ultimate horror film. The result was Freaks.
It's the movie about circus freaks and a love triangle located within. Cleopatra, the lady from the trapeze, turns the head of one of the midgets, Hans. Hans however is engaged to one of the other midgets, Frieda. Frieda goes to speak to Cleo as one woman to another. She tries to point out how many people laugh behind their back. Cleo only mocks Frieda. Frieda points out how much it will break Hans feelings to find out that he is the butt of a joke. Cleo then goes after Frieda. She makes fun of all dwarves. Then Frieda drops the bomb. She says that she knows Cleo is in it for the money. Hans made Frieda not to mention that he is wealthy. It's then that Cleo decides what she will do.
With the help of the strong man, Cleo decides to marry Hans and kill him. During the wedding feast, the freaks decide to make Cleo an honorary freak. She spurs them. To add insult to injury, she flirts with the strong man and ends the party by giving piggy back rides to Hans.
The next day, Hans is diagnosed with food poisoning, but the freaks suspect differently. They watch Cleo and realize what her plans are. They exact revenge in the worst possible way.
If you've never seen Freaks then either rent it or buy it. But it's amazing how this seventy year old movie can still have all the repulsive punch that it ever did.
Freaks however does show a point that it makes in the first two minutes. "but for the accident of birth, you might be even as they are." It's a movie that says that even though they look like monstrosities that they are actually really decent human beings. They should not be ostracized, just because they look different. Good, decent people come in all shapes and sizes, and that we should be more than happy to make them "One of us, one of us."
And now, folks, if you'll just step this way, you are about to witness the most amazing, the most astounding living monstrosity of all time. (Woman screams.) Friends, She was once a beautiful woman. A royal prince shot himself for love of her. She was known as the peacock of the air..."
And so begins the movie, Freaks. It's a film created way back in 1932. It was banned for forty years and is still banned in Sweden. It was directed Tod Browning. Tod Browning was fresh off his hit Dracula and was challenged to make the ultimate horror film. The result was Freaks.
It's the movie about circus freaks and a love triangle located within. Cleopatra, the lady from the trapeze, turns the head of one of the midgets, Hans. Hans however is engaged to one of the other midgets, Frieda. Frieda goes to speak to Cleo as one woman to another. She tries to point out how many people laugh behind their back. Cleo only mocks Frieda. Frieda points out how much it will break Hans feelings to find out that he is the butt of a joke. Cleo then goes after Frieda. She makes fun of all dwarves. Then Frieda drops the bomb. She says that she knows Cleo is in it for the money. Hans made Frieda not to mention that he is wealthy. It's then that Cleo decides what she will do.
With the help of the strong man, Cleo decides to marry Hans and kill him. During the wedding feast, the freaks decide to make Cleo an honorary freak. She spurs them. To add insult to injury, she flirts with the strong man and ends the party by giving piggy back rides to Hans.
The next day, Hans is diagnosed with food poisoning, but the freaks suspect differently. They watch Cleo and realize what her plans are. They exact revenge in the worst possible way.
If you've never seen Freaks then either rent it or buy it. But it's amazing how this seventy year old movie can still have all the repulsive punch that it ever did.
Freaks however does show a point that it makes in the first two minutes. "but for the accident of birth, you might be even as they are." It's a movie that says that even though they look like monstrosities that they are actually really decent human beings. They should not be ostracized, just because they look different. Good, decent people come in all shapes and sizes, and that we should be more than happy to make them "One of us, one of us."
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