"Freaks" is one of the most impactful films ever made about humanity's cruelty and the power of solidarity. It tells the story of a beautiful but conniving trapeze artist named Cleopatra who plans to seduce and murder Hans, a circus sideshow performer and a person of short stature, for his inheritance. Director Tod Browning's dark film was a critical and box office failure during its 1932 release because of its unflinching depiction of persons with disabilities, causing it to fade into obscurity for many years.
Today, many critics debate whether or not "Freaks" is an exploitative product of its time or actually sympathetic towards the sideshow characters. It spotlights persons with all sorts of disabilities such as dwarfism (the siblings Harry and Daisy Earles), sacral agenesis (Johnny Eck), conjoined twins (Daisy and Violet Hilton), microcephaly (Schlitzie), and more. Yet at the same time, the film contains terrifying scenes where the...
Today, many critics debate whether or not "Freaks" is an exploitative product of its time or actually sympathetic towards the sideshow characters. It spotlights persons with all sorts of disabilities such as dwarfism (the siblings Harry and Daisy Earles), sacral agenesis (Johnny Eck), conjoined twins (Daisy and Violet Hilton), microcephaly (Schlitzie), and more. Yet at the same time, the film contains terrifying scenes where the...
- 9/6/2022
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
[Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 in a four-part series on disability and horror.]
“Watching horror films is a disabling experience,” Angela M. Smith, Associate Professor of English and Gender Studies for the University of Utah and author of the book “Hideous Progeny: Disability, Eugenics, and Classic Horror Cinema,” said. “It’s a controlled encounter with discomfort, with the vulnerability of our minds and bodies to images and suggestions that opens us to unwilled transformations.”
The horror film revels in the world of deformity and grotesqueness and, to a disabled viewer, that can be confusing in how relatable it is. For many, to be disabled is also to look different, so how does a person with a disability approach the horror genre when the presented thing to fear is themselves?
Smith said people weren’t ready for “Freaks” in the 1930s, and she’s absolutely correct. “Freaks,” for better and worse, remains one of the only U.S. features to have a predominately disabled...
“Watching horror films is a disabling experience,” Angela M. Smith, Associate Professor of English and Gender Studies for the University of Utah and author of the book “Hideous Progeny: Disability, Eugenics, and Classic Horror Cinema,” said. “It’s a controlled encounter with discomfort, with the vulnerability of our minds and bodies to images and suggestions that opens us to unwilled transformations.”
The horror film revels in the world of deformity and grotesqueness and, to a disabled viewer, that can be confusing in how relatable it is. For many, to be disabled is also to look different, so how does a person with a disability approach the horror genre when the presented thing to fear is themselves?
Smith said people weren’t ready for “Freaks” in the 1930s, and she’s absolutely correct. “Freaks,” for better and worse, remains one of the only U.S. features to have a predominately disabled...
- 10/6/2020
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
“Chained for Life” opens with a long quotation from Pauline Kael, the point of which is difficult to disagree with: actors and actresses tend to be more beautiful than the rest of us. Though the reason for this phenomenon is simple enough — people enjoy looking at pretty things, including and especially other people — its effects tend to be more complicated.
One case in point is writer-director Aaron Schimberg’s film, which makes good on its epigraph by exploring our conception of beauty (among many other things) with unexpected tenderness — unexpected because, at first glance, it looks like an ill-advised riff on “Freaks” that could easily turn exploitative.
Alongside Jess Weixler (“It Chapter Two”), who’s one of countless thespians to demonstrate Kael’s point, the film stars Adam Pearson, a performer familiar both for his scene-stealing turn in “Under the Skin” and for a condition called neurofibromatosis, which covers his face in tumors.
One case in point is writer-director Aaron Schimberg’s film, which makes good on its epigraph by exploring our conception of beauty (among many other things) with unexpected tenderness — unexpected because, at first glance, it looks like an ill-advised riff on “Freaks” that could easily turn exploitative.
Alongside Jess Weixler (“It Chapter Two”), who’s one of countless thespians to demonstrate Kael’s point, the film stars Adam Pearson, a performer familiar both for his scene-stealing turn in “Under the Skin” and for a condition called neurofibromatosis, which covers his face in tumors.
- 9/10/2019
- by Michael Nordine
- The Wrap
Nearly 20 years ago Broadway fell in love with the spellbinding Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley as Daisy and Violet Hilton conjoined twins and unlikely starlets in the moody and romantic original 1997 production of Side Show by Bill Russell and Dreamgirls composer Henry Krieger, directed by Robert Longbottom. Skinner and Ripley have enjoyed Broadway success and acclaim, each in their own right, as well as thriving concert and recording careers.The ladies will talk work, play,friendship, family and the phenomenon that led to their remarkable joint Tony Nomination.
- 7/3/2016
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
They could never leave you. Alice Ripley and Emily Skinnerareperforming together in NYC for the first time in nearly nine years. The duoreceived a Tony Award co-nomination for their roles as the conjoined twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton, in the original Broadway production of Side Show separately, Alice and Emily have starred in numerous other Broadway shows including The Full Monty, Next To Normal, Billy Elliot, The Rocky Horror Show, and many more.Additional performances will take place February 4-6 7Pm and February 6 930Pm at Feinstein's54 Below. BroadwayWorld was there for the epic first night, and you can catch some highlights below...
- 2/4/2016
- by BroadwayWorld TV
- BroadwayWorld.com
In 1998, Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner became the first actresses ever nominated together for a Best Actress Tony Award, for their performance as the conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton in the original Broadway production of 'Side Show.' This week, September 1 amp 2 at 700 Pm, Mark Cortale will reunite the two heralded stars of that musical for his ground-breaking Broadway The Art House series in Provincetown, featuring SiriusXM Star Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host.
- 9/1/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
In 1998, Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner became the first actresses ever nominated together for a Best Actress Tony Award, for their performance as the conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton in the original Broadway production of 'Side Show.' On September 1 amp 2 at 700 Pm, Mark Cortale will reunite the two heralded stars of that musical for his ground-breaking Broadway The Art House series in Provincetown, featuring SiriusXM Star Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host. What differentiates this concert series from any other is the seamless mix of intimate, funny and revealing behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway's biggest stars and their stellar singing of musical theatre repertoire. For tickets and information visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 800-838-3006.
- 8/24/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Second Update, 7:29 a.m. with link to Today show appearance.
Update, 5:25 a.m. with more information below:
The musical that poignantly poses the question “Who will love me as I am?” got its answer last night: Very few.
Tough business.
Side Show, the $8 million reboot of a 1997 flop about freak-show legends Daisy and Violet Hilton, helmed in his Broadway debut by Dreamgirls and Gods And Monsters director Bill Condon, will fold after the Sunday, January 4 matinee, the producers announced this morning. The original production also closed on January 4 — 1998, after 91 performances, a record the new version will not match. After successful tryouts at the La Jolla Playhouse in California and the Kennedy Center last summer, the heavily revised show opened November 16 at the Jujamcyn-owned St. James Theatre to several glowing reviews, including a rave from the New York Times’ Charles Isherwood:
“Being a freak is virtually the new normal,...
Update, 5:25 a.m. with more information below:
The musical that poignantly poses the question “Who will love me as I am?” got its answer last night: Very few.
Tough business.
Side Show, the $8 million reboot of a 1997 flop about freak-show legends Daisy and Violet Hilton, helmed in his Broadway debut by Dreamgirls and Gods And Monsters director Bill Condon, will fold after the Sunday, January 4 matinee, the producers announced this morning. The original production also closed on January 4 — 1998, after 91 performances, a record the new version will not match. After successful tryouts at the La Jolla Playhouse in California and the Kennedy Center last summer, the heavily revised show opened November 16 at the Jujamcyn-owned St. James Theatre to several glowing reviews, including a rave from the New York Times’ Charles Isherwood:
“Being a freak is virtually the new normal,...
- 12/12/2014
- by Jeremy Gerard
- Deadline
Despite what seemed like weeks of buzz about its radical transformations, the revival of Side Show that opened on Broadway tonight is not as meaningfully different from the 1997 original as its current creatives would like to think. Now as then, the cult musical about the conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton is itself conjoined. (There’s no avoiding the Siamese imagery; many of the songs, and even the title, play on the theme.) The story of the Hiltons’ rise from circus freaks to vaudeville stars in the early 1930s, with all the requisite references to cultural voyeurism and its human costs, is fused to an intimate story of emotional accommodation between sisters as unalike as sisters can be. The problem with Side Show is that these stories can’t be separated, and only one can thrive.For me, it’s the intimate story that deserves precedence; it’s far better told.
- 11/18/2014
- by Jesse Green
- Vulture
At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what's streaming on Netflix, we've got you covered.
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Bound by Flesh"
If you're a fan of "American Horror Story: Freak Show," you'll want to get to know sideshow stars Daisy and Violet Hilton. Leslie Zemeckis writes and directs this doc about the world-famous conjoined twins.
"Nightbreed: The Director's Cut"
This is the first time that Clive Barker's original cut has been released, with 40 minutes of fresh footage. The limited edition release comes with the theatrical cut, as well as a third disc of extras, but it's already sold out. Still, the regular release has the long-awaited director's cut, Barker audio commentary, and some other goodies that make it a worthwhile investment for fans.
The Complete Jacques Tati
This seven-disc Criterion set comes with Tati's six features, plus...
New on DVD and Blu-ray
"Bound by Flesh"
If you're a fan of "American Horror Story: Freak Show," you'll want to get to know sideshow stars Daisy and Violet Hilton. Leslie Zemeckis writes and directs this doc about the world-famous conjoined twins.
"Nightbreed: The Director's Cut"
This is the first time that Clive Barker's original cut has been released, with 40 minutes of fresh footage. The limited edition release comes with the theatrical cut, as well as a third disc of extras, but it's already sold out. Still, the regular release has the long-awaited director's cut, Barker audio commentary, and some other goodies that make it a worthwhile investment for fans.
The Complete Jacques Tati
This seven-disc Criterion set comes with Tati's six features, plus...
- 10/27/2014
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
What feud? The Kardashians and Hiltons seem to officially be on good terms these days. On Friday, Oct. 10, Paris and Nicky Hilton partied with Khloe Kardashian at the luxury restaurant and lounge Cle Dubai while on a trip to Dubai. The Hilton sisters wore floor-length gowns while Kardashian, 30, sported a black, long-sleeve mini dress with a cleavage cutout. "Fun #GirlsNightOut at @CleDubai with @KhloeKardashian & @NickyHilton," Paris, 33, captioned an Instagram photo of the trio. Back in 2008, the notoriously opinionated blonde bashed her pal and former [...]...
- 10/11/2014
- Us Weekly
Exclusive: The much-ballyhooed Broadway revival of Side Show has a new above-the-title producer: Universal Pictures. Christopher Herzberger, Universal’s executive, live theatricals, pushed the deal, which I’m told includes a financial stake in the tuner. Lead producers of the musical, imported from the Kennedy Center, are Darren Bagert, Martin Massman and Jayne Baron Sherman.
Based on the true story of Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, the musical will begin performances October 18 at the Jujamcyn-owned St. James Theatre, with Erin Davie and Emily Padgett reprising their leading roles. Opening night is set for November 17. Rick Miramontez, spokesman for the show, had no comment.
Based on the true story of Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, the musical will begin performances October 18 at the Jujamcyn-owned St. James Theatre, with Erin Davie and Emily Padgett reprising their leading roles. Opening night is set for November 17. Rick Miramontez, spokesman for the show, had no comment.
- 8/27/2014
- by Jeremy Gerard
- Deadline
The demise of Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway has opened up the great St. James Theatre, but not for long: A revised version of Side Show, the musical based on the true story of Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, will begin performances October 18 at the Jujamcyn-owned house following an acclaimed run this spring at the Kennedy Center. Erin Davie and Emily Padgett will reprise their leading roles. The director is Oscar winner Bill Condon (Chicago, etc.). Opening night is November 17. The original production was a 1997 failure on Broadway but built a cult following. The revival has some new music and […]...
- 8/6/2014
- Deadline
Wrinkles
Nr, 1 Hr., 20 Mins.
Directed by Ignacio Ferreras, a disciple of Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville), and dubbed into English from Spanish, this animated gem tells a story of friendship in an old folks’ home. Emilio (Martin Sheen) is dumped there by his son after one too many senior moments, while Miguel (George Coe), a white-haired Randle McMurphy, cuts deals and runs the joint. The animation artfully transitions between what is real and what the aging residents think is real. Rare is the “cartoon” that penetrates and even haunts; Wrinkles is not easily forgotten. (Available on iTunes and VOD...
Nr, 1 Hr., 20 Mins.
Directed by Ignacio Ferreras, a disciple of Sylvain Chomet (The Triplets of Belleville), and dubbed into English from Spanish, this animated gem tells a story of friendship in an old folks’ home. Emilio (Martin Sheen) is dumped there by his son after one too many senior moments, while Miguel (George Coe), a white-haired Randle McMurphy, cuts deals and runs the joint. The animation artfully transitions between what is real and what the aging residents think is real. Rare is the “cartoon” that penetrates and even haunts; Wrinkles is not easily forgotten. (Available on iTunes and VOD...
- 7/3/2014
- by EW staff
- EW - Inside Movies
Where once it was the centerpiece of mainstream entertainment in the Midwest, nowadays the circus sideshow is gradually returning to the public eye as a subcultural curiosity after years of negative publicity and a rise in television, films and digital media. A major contributing factor of this growing subculture is the desire by some to acknowledge and promote an awareness and understanding of this nearly forgotten and often misunderstood part of our American history.
Writer and director Leslie Zemeckis‘s Bound By Flesh is a film that takes great price in doing its part in resurrecting the titillating and often taboo facts and folklore of the freak show. This documentary focuses on the lives of two fascinating girls, Daisy and Violet Hilton, also known as The Hilton Sisters. On the surface, and as always primarily publicized, Daisy and Violet had one overwhelming unusual trait… they are Siamese twins, conjoined by...
Writer and director Leslie Zemeckis‘s Bound By Flesh is a film that takes great price in doing its part in resurrecting the titillating and often taboo facts and folklore of the freak show. This documentary focuses on the lives of two fascinating girls, Daisy and Violet Hilton, also known as The Hilton Sisters. On the surface, and as always primarily publicized, Daisy and Violet had one overwhelming unusual trait… they are Siamese twins, conjoined by...
- 7/3/2014
- by Travis Keune
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Anyone who’s interested in vaudeville, burlesque, sideshows, and the fringes of 20th century show business will know of The Hilton Sisters, Violet and Daisy. These attractive “Siamese twins” (as they were called in those days) were headliners on stage, appeared in Tod Browning’s movie Freaks in 1932 and starred in their own exploitation feature Chained for Life twenty years later. But while they’ve long been on my radar, I must confess that I knew virtually nothing about their lives. Leslie Zemeckis, who explored the backstage world of burlesque in her last documentary, Behind the Burly Q, now offers a straightforward and thorough biography of Violet and Daisy. She has diligently...
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- 6/27/2014
- by Leonard Maltin
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
It was back in 2012 when we first heard about Bound by Flesh, a documentary focusing on the lives of Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who were featured in Tod Browning's classic film Freaks. Here we are years later with an exclusive clip and lots more.
From the Press Release
Sundance Selects will open the new documentary Bound By Flesh, about conjoined twin superstars Daisy and Violet Hilton, theatrically in Los Angeles on June 27 and on VOD. The award-winning film was directed by Leslie Zemeckis (Behind The Burly Q).
American sideshows were in fairs, circuses, and carnivals. There were acts such as glass blowers, musicians, and also the freaks. Most freaks just stood there while the audience wandered past. The Hilton sisters, however, were trained to put on a winning performance. They sang, danced, and played a variety of musical instruments. Once they quit the carnival world and started playing vaudeville houses,...
From the Press Release
Sundance Selects will open the new documentary Bound By Flesh, about conjoined twin superstars Daisy and Violet Hilton, theatrically in Los Angeles on June 27 and on VOD. The award-winning film was directed by Leslie Zemeckis (Behind The Burly Q).
American sideshows were in fairs, circuses, and carnivals. There were acts such as glass blowers, musicians, and also the freaks. Most freaks just stood there while the audience wandered past. The Hilton sisters, however, were trained to put on a winning performance. They sang, danced, and played a variety of musical instruments. Once they quit the carnival world and started playing vaudeville houses,...
- 6/26/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
Just as video killed the radio star, celluloid ruined sideshow freaks. Whether cinema's displacement of vaudeville and carnival attractions at the top of rural America's entertainment heap was a positive development is up for debate in Leslie Zemeckis's sympathetic but unambitious documentary Bound by Flesh, a cradle-to-grave portrait of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton.
The arc of the other Hilton sisters' rise and fall — from their early heyday as one of the best-paid attractions of the Roaring Twenties to their ignoble last years eking out a living as small-town grocery-store clerks in North Carolina — should be familiar to anyone who's wasted an afternoon watching cable specials about forgotten child stars. (Those E! True Hollywood Story ins...
The arc of the other Hilton sisters' rise and fall — from their early heyday as one of the best-paid attractions of the Roaring Twenties to their ignoble last years eking out a living as small-town grocery-store clerks in North Carolina — should be familiar to anyone who's wasted an afternoon watching cable specials about forgotten child stars. (Those E! True Hollywood Story ins...
- 6/25/2014
- Village Voice
While we live in an era where stars can seem to emerge from anything from viral videos to Twitter accounts, this isn't necessarily a recent phenomenon. In the '20s and '30s, crowds flocked to sideshows to see human curiosities, and sometimes those performers became famous themselves. And in the forthcoming documentary "Bound By Flesh," director Leslie Zemeckis examines the sad story of one such duo. From the day they were born, conjoined sisters Daisy and Violet Hilton were groomed for stardom. They were effectively sold by their unmarried mother into the car of another woman, who wasted no time in training the girls for performances, and soon they were touring the world, and even performing as part of Bob Hope's show. But shifty managers, abuse and troubled relationships followed, even as their fame rose, and the sisters' lives came to a tragic end. And this exclusive trailer...
- 5/2/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Side Show, based on the true life story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, is set to be revived at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in performances running from June 14 - July 13, 2014. Side Show originally opened on Broadway in 1997, starring Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner as the Hilton twins. Telling the story of their rise from circus attractions to famous vaudeville performers during the Great Depression, Side Show brings us the sisters' lifelong search for fortune, romance, and a spot on the stage.
- 2/28/2014
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
The musical Side Show gained a significant cult following when it premiered on Broadway in 1997, and it seems the rest of pop culture is only just now catching up, with an AMC reality show about the Venice Boardwalk freak show, the popular Tim Burton film and musical adaptation of Big Fish, and various other carny-themed stories making their mark. So it’s a fitting time for a revival of the musical about conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton, who started as a circus act to rise to fame on stage in the 1930s. In a new production officially opening this...
- 11/14/2013
- by Laura Hertzfeld
- EW.com - PopWatch
Chicago – HollywoodChicago.com writer Matt Fagerholm will chat about the latest independent films on Vocalo 89.5Fm from 9:30am to 10am on Friday, October 26th. Topics will include Tom Tykwer, Andy and Lana Wachowski’s hugely ambitious adaptation of David Mitchell’s acclaimed 2004 novel, “Cloud Atlas,” which opens in theaters on Friday, October 26th.
This is the second installment of Vocalo’s Indie Outlook series featuring Fagerholm, who created the independent film blog, Indie Outlook, this past summer. The site recently provided coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival with three in-depth interviews. Chicago’s own Kris Swanberg (“Kissing on the Mouth”) discussed her subtly eerie drama, “Empire Builder,” while Leslie Zemeckis (wife of Robert) chatted about her documentary, “Bound by Flesh,” which chronicled the lives of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton.
Director Brad Lichtenstein also discussed his Wisconsin-set documentary, “As Goes Janesville,” which follows the titular town’s...
This is the second installment of Vocalo’s Indie Outlook series featuring Fagerholm, who created the independent film blog, Indie Outlook, this past summer. The site recently provided coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival with three in-depth interviews. Chicago’s own Kris Swanberg (“Kissing on the Mouth”) discussed her subtly eerie drama, “Empire Builder,” while Leslie Zemeckis (wife of Robert) chatted about her documentary, “Bound by Flesh,” which chronicled the lives of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton.
Director Brad Lichtenstein also discussed his Wisconsin-set documentary, “As Goes Janesville,” which follows the titular town’s...
- 10/25/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – The 48th Annual Chicago International Film Festival has announced four new additions to this year’s schedule, including David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook.” The comedic drama has garnered immense praise on the festival circuit and is currently one of the top Oscar contenders. It will screen at 7pm Wednesday, October 24 at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St.
Bradley Cooper stars as a troubled man fresh out of an institution who moves back in with his parents (played by Robert De Niro and Jackie Weaver) and ends up forming an unlikely bond with a similarly quirky young woman (Jennifer Lawrence of “Winter’s Bone” and “Hunger Games” fame). Russell’s prolific career has ranged from ensemble comedies (“Flirting with Disaster,” “I Heart Huckabees”), war blockbusters (“Three Kings”) and sports dramas (“The Fighter”), all linked by the common thread of dysfunctional human relationships, often of the familial variety.
Bradley Cooper stars as a troubled man fresh out of an institution who moves back in with his parents (played by Robert De Niro and Jackie Weaver) and ends up forming an unlikely bond with a similarly quirky young woman (Jennifer Lawrence of “Winter’s Bone” and “Hunger Games” fame). Russell’s prolific career has ranged from ensemble comedies (“Flirting with Disaster,” “I Heart Huckabees”), war blockbusters (“Three Kings”) and sports dramas (“The Fighter”), all linked by the common thread of dysfunctional human relationships, often of the familial variety.
- 9/30/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The lead love interest for Richard Lagravenese's "Beautiful Creatures" — an adaptation of the young adult supernatural romance novel (also a series) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl — has been replaced. Jack O'Connell has left the project due to scheduling conflicts, and Alden Ehrenreich is stepping in.
The "Twixt" and "Tetro" actor will be starring as Ethan — in love with local girl Lena. Both teens uncover dark secrets about their families and the town they live in. Ethan also happens to have a nasty ex-girlfriend, who enacts some "Mean Girls-style" revenge against Lena. We previously reported that Jeremy Irons is also starring in the film, along with Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Thomas Mann, and Emmy Rossum. Are you in the mood for a supernatural star-crossed lovers story, or have you had your fill of all things "Twilight-esque" for a while?
Get the rest of this week's Horror Bites past the jump!
The "Twixt" and "Tetro" actor will be starring as Ethan — in love with local girl Lena. Both teens uncover dark secrets about their families and the town they live in. Ethan also happens to have a nasty ex-girlfriend, who enacts some "Mean Girls-style" revenge against Lena. We previously reported that Jeremy Irons is also starring in the film, along with Viola Davis, Emma Thompson, Thomas Mann, and Emmy Rossum. Are you in the mood for a supernatural star-crossed lovers story, or have you had your fill of all things "Twilight-esque" for a while?
Get the rest of this week's Horror Bites past the jump!
- 4/12/2012
- by Alison Nastasi
- MTV Movies Blog
Anyone who is familiar with Tod Browning's classic film Freaks will no doubt be more than acquainted with Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. The rest of you who are stunned to hear that Titanic was based upon actual events ... not so much. Still, it's never too late to learn something.
According to Deadline, Leslie and Robert Zemeckis are teaming on Bound by Flesh, a documentary Leslie will direct on Daisy and Violet Hilton, Siamese sisters joined at the hip who graduated from wax museums and the carnival sideshow circuit to become the biggest moneymaking act on vaudeville. Robert Zemeckis, her husband, will be executive producer, with Jackie Levine producing. Look for the flick in the fall of 2013.
Born in Brighton, England, the sisters were conjoined twins, and their mother, a single barmaid, sold them to her boss, who sniffed a freak show fortune. They were taught to dance...
According to Deadline, Leslie and Robert Zemeckis are teaming on Bound by Flesh, a documentary Leslie will direct on Daisy and Violet Hilton, Siamese sisters joined at the hip who graduated from wax museums and the carnival sideshow circuit to become the biggest moneymaking act on vaudeville. Robert Zemeckis, her husband, will be executive producer, with Jackie Levine producing. Look for the flick in the fall of 2013.
Born in Brighton, England, the sisters were conjoined twins, and their mother, a single barmaid, sold them to her boss, who sniffed a freak show fortune. They were taught to dance...
- 4/12/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Exclusive: Leslie and Robert Zemeckis are teaming on Bound By Flesh, a documentary she will direct on Daisy and Violet Hilton, Siamese sisters joined at the hip who graduated from wax museums and the carnival sideshow circuit to become the biggest moneymaking act on vaudeville. At their peak, they worked alongside Jack Benny, Bob Hope and Burns and Allen. Robert Zemeckis, her husband, will be executive producer, with Jackie Levine producing. Born in Brighton, England, the sisters were conjoined twins and their mother, a single barmaid, sold them to her boss, who sniffed a freak show fortune. They were taught to dance and sing, and were exploited throughout their childhood until they eventually sued and won their freedom. They went on to have a successful career until the business phased out. Zemeckis is planning a spring, 2013 release. Zemeckis helmed the documentary Behind the Burly Q, and created the one-woman burlesque-inspired...
- 4/11/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
Freaks (1932)
Directed by Tod Browning
Written by Willis Goldbeck & Leon Gordon based on the story “Spurs” by Tod Robbins
Starring Wallace Ford (Phroso the Clown), Leila Hyams (Venus), Olga Baclanova (Cleopatra), Henry Victor (Hercules), Harry Earles (Hans)
Director Tod Browning grew up in the circus – under the big top – amidst manic clowns, hairy women and human deformity all lined up for our entertainment. These were his people. Roll up, roll up.
Roll up, roll!! Dare you see Freaks: the controversial classic, banned in the UK for 30 years!! Gather round and gasp at these misshapen misfits. Dance with the Pinheads; lust after sexy Siamese Sisters; be confused by Joseph/Josephine the half man, half woman; and cower at the murderous Code of the Freaks!!!!
“Gooble-gobble, Gooble-gobble,
One of us, one of us!”
It was made in 1932 and has gathered a reputation as a perverse masterpiece. People cower at its name,...
Directed by Tod Browning
Written by Willis Goldbeck & Leon Gordon based on the story “Spurs” by Tod Robbins
Starring Wallace Ford (Phroso the Clown), Leila Hyams (Venus), Olga Baclanova (Cleopatra), Henry Victor (Hercules), Harry Earles (Hans)
Director Tod Browning grew up in the circus – under the big top – amidst manic clowns, hairy women and human deformity all lined up for our entertainment. These were his people. Roll up, roll up.
Roll up, roll!! Dare you see Freaks: the controversial classic, banned in the UK for 30 years!! Gather round and gasp at these misshapen misfits. Dance with the Pinheads; lust after sexy Siamese Sisters; be confused by Joseph/Josephine the half man, half woman; and cower at the murderous Code of the Freaks!!!!
“Gooble-gobble, Gooble-gobble,
One of us, one of us!”
It was made in 1932 and has gathered a reputation as a perverse masterpiece. People cower at its name,...
- 10/3/2011
- by Tom Fallows
- Obsessed with Film
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