Episode 60: Freaks (1932) & Santa Sangre (1989)

Welcome to episode 60 of The Horror Double Bill, the podcast where each week we pair two movies to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

This week we are running away to join the circus—a prospect that seems more and more appealing with every passing day.

First up, we have the highly controversial Freaks, from 1932 directed by Tod Browning. This stars Olga Baclanova, Harry Earles, Daisy Earles, Wallace Ford, Leila Hyams and Henry Victor.

Then we follow this with the incredibly surreal Santa Sangre, from 1989 directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky. This stars Axel Jodorowsky, Adan Jodorowsky, Blanca Guerra, Thelma Tixou and Guy Stockwell.

Along the way, we’ll be discussing the life and career of directors Tod Browning and Alejandro Jodowrosky, the history of the quote unquote freak show, the careers of Harry and Daisy Earles, and much, much more.

Recommendations

The Unholy Three (1925)

The Unknown (1927)

Dracula (1931)

Mark of the Vampire (1935)

The Devil Doll (1936)

References

Dark Carnival: The Secret World of Tod Browning, Hollywood’s Master of the Macabre by David J. Skal and Elias Savada

Tod Browning’s Dracula by Gary D. Rhodes

Freaks: A Film by Tod Browning by Jack Hunter

American Gothic: Six Decades of Classic Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby. 

Freaks (1932) blu ray (Criterion).

Anarchy and Alchemy: The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky by Ben Cobb

The Seven Lives of Alejandro Jodorowsky compiled and curated by Vincent Bernière and Nicolas Tellop

Santa Sangre (1989) blu-ray special edition (Severin Films)

Spaghetti Nightmares: Italian Fantasy-Horrors as Seen Through the Eyes of Their Protagonists Luca Palmerini

https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Barnum-Bailey-Revolt-Of-The-Freaks/

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/09/tod-browning-freaks-banned

https://collider.com/freaks-history-tod-browning/

https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2023/10/08/one-of-us-tod-brownings-freaks-disability-culture-and-the-criterion-for-inclusion/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Baartman

https://blackpast.org/global-african-history/baartman-sara-saartjie-1789-1815/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_and_Christine_McKoy

https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-dark-world-of-human-curiosities-uncovering-the-history-of-freak-shows-8633a1b95321

https://www.britannica.com/art/freak-show

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0423524/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alejandro_Jodorowsky

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tod_Browning

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