Appearance Does Not Signify Worth
Tod Browning, the director of ‘Freaks’ initially sought to make a horror film, but
instead developed prominent social commentary. Since Browning traveling with a
circus, he decided to cast circus performers as the stars of the film. His idea of using
circus sideshow performers was not well-received. Browning was discouraged from
making the film and other MGM clients shunned the cast.
‘Freaks’ showcases circus side-show performers as moral, accepting people
while depicting ‘normal’, regular people as villainous and crude. A midget, Hans, falls in
love with the trapeze artist, Cleo. Hans’ fiancé, Frieda, is crushed when she is
discarded for Cleo. Frieda tells of Hans’ inheritance to Cleo, who plans the demise of
Hans.
The unity of the deformed performers is shown when they warn Hans of Cleo’s
insincerity. Despite this, Hans continues to see Cleo. When Cleo learns about Hans’
forthcoming fortune, she amps up her charm to secure Hans’ proposal of marriage.
The rest of the crew supports Hans, and accept her into their clique. Cleo is appalled;
she rejects them and humiliates Hans.
Cleo spikes Hans’ drink and he becomes ill. She keeps him bed-ridden until
someone discovers the secret. The misfit performer again show their unification by the
plot to destroy Cleo. The climatic scene shows the slithering performers as the ‘freaks’
and Cleo as the ‘victim.’
Browning’s film, ‘Freaks,’ permeates through the times and remains an
unforgettable movie with an unprecedented cast. It remains revenant social
commentary by offering the idea that worth should be based on personality and not
appearance.
-Lisa Silversmith, c.2014
No comments:
Post a Comment