I saw this film by accident. I was watching an old VHS that had The Three Amigo's on it and when it finished, it just sort of switched over to Freaks. First thought was turn it off, just watched one film, don't want to watch another. But I am so glad that I did cause this film is fantastic.
It was filmed in 1932 with a cast of real 'freaks' as they were known and considered to be at the time. The film deals with the treatment of those different from ourselves back when it was considered acceptable to make someone an outcast based on thier physical attributes. This is seen clearly right at the beginning when two men walk into a small group of 'pinheads' and tell the woman with them to exercise them somehwere else. The film can be harsh in those respects but that is implied I think by it's tagline with the exclamation of 'midget'.
It is terrible the ways in which these people were treated and the film exemplifies this with the woman's attitude and attmepted trickery of a 'midget' to get his wealth. But the revenge enacted upon her and her strong-man lover are adequate to create an essentially, happy, ending.
An outstanding film.