Freaks (MGM, 1932). Fine. Pressbook (8 Pages, 12.5" X 19").. ...

Description

The Only Known Example of the Pressbook for Tod Browning's Controversial Classic

Freaks (MGM, 1932). Fine. Pressbook (8 Pages, 12.5" X 19").
Offered for the first time at Heritage, this is the only example of the original release pressbook for Tod Browning's controversial sideshow drama known to the hobby. Auction observers will recall that Heritage sold a Style D one sheet on the film in the summer of 2024. At that time, our researchers sought out a pressbook to determine the official style designation of the poster. Not even the most exhaustive private collections or institutional holdings contained a copy, nor had any advanced collectors or archivists even heard of one. This is unsurprising given the incredible rarity of all original material for the film and the circumstances of its release. From the 1932 campaign, we are only aware of two Style D one sheets, one Style C one sheet, one insert, and one complete set of lobby cards (though stray cards are in circulation). This pressbook provides the first glimpse any collector has ever gotten of the incredible six sheet, the 24 sheet, and both half sheet posters for the film. When Freaks was distributed theatrically, it caused an immediate uproar due to its shocking use of real sideshow performers and its unsettling portrayal of physical deformity. Audiences and critics found the film grotesque and exploitative, leading to walkouts, bans in several countries, and its removal from circulation in the U.S. for decades. It was the only MGM film to be pulled from release before completing its domestic engagements. This truncation of the initial run accounts for the extreme scarcity of the promotional material, given that the film never played in most U.S. markets. Designed to look like a newspaper (not uncommon for MGM pressbooks of the era), the piece contains the typical synopses, actor bios, and prepared reviews for promotion, as well as fascinating ad mats, some featuring individual sideshow cast members with outrageous headlines such as, "Can a pinhead think," "Can a full grown woman truly love a midget," and "Do Siamese twins make love." Add to this the images of the posters, banners, and other promotional items, and you have an extraordinary artifact from one of the most provocative and misunderstood films in motion picture history. Despite the reaction in 1932, later critics have reappraised Freaks as a bold, empathetic, and subversive work that challenges societal ideas of normalcy and monstrosity. This subsequent analysis has bestowed classic status on the film and made the movie paper highly sought-after. The pressbook exhibits spine splitting toning, chipping, and tears around the edges, which does not affect the printing. Remarkable both for the content and its very existence, this piece would be a significant addition to any private or institutional collection.


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