Writer's Block: Killer tomatoes

[i_amthecosmos]

[Error: unknown template qotd]This is an impossible question. But I'm going to go with Freaks, just for the disturbance factor. This is Tod Browning (Dracula director) ruining his career! Nobody in 1932 wanted to see a horror movie starring circus prodigies. It was banned in England for decades, and for all I know might still be. But it's one of the most surreal, odd movies ever. Here, have a scene.

Watch on YouTube

So basically, a cult film needs pure fearlessness!

Comments

[gabilady.livejournal.com]

I am actually named after Jennie Snow. Elvira and Jennie are my Great-Grandmother's sisters. Their brother Cliff made money by putting them in sideshow acts with circuses. He was not a nice guy. I can remember my Granny Rowland telling me stories about my mom and Elvira playing in a playpen when my mom was a toddler and Elvira was in her late 20's.

You can still order the movie on Amazon or rent it from Netflix.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's really touching. A lot of old-time carnies would swear up and down that the mentally challenged performers would much rather work the carnie circuit than be in an institution. But this story makes me remember that a lot of them would probably have just wanted to stay home.

I do own a copy of the movie. Here's hoping nobody remakes it, or if they do, they use people in makeup.

(I still love it, I just think it's impossible to remake it and have it be ethical in any way. It was right on the line then.)

[carolinecrane.livejournal.com]

I love "Freaks". I wish more people knew about it.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

I love it too-that scene is one of my favorites ever.

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

I love Freaks. I have a crush on Johnny Eck. /TMI (But he was awesome!)

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

Didn't Johnny Eck become a folk artist later in life? I heard he was one of the performers who felt that Freaks was exploitive and never wanted to talk about it. (Lady Olga the bearded lady wasn't a fan either.)

[screwthedaisies.livejournal.com]

He was an artist, among many other things. I've never read that he felt the movie was exploitative, though, or didn't want to talk about it.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

Well, I read that in an interview with John Waters, who has been known to get his information wrong before. But he did talk about Johnny Eck's art.