‘Freak’ out at Manship

Tod Browning, who directed Bela Lugosi in the original Dracula, stepped into even eerier territory with his 1932 story of betrayal and retribution in the circus, Freaks. Evil trapeze artist Olga Baclanova seduces and marries a midget in the circus sideshow, hoping to inherit his wealth. But in doing so, she has crossed the wrong folks: the tightly knit group of sideshow “freaks,” who stick together like family–and who set out to avenge their little pal. Browning brought in some of the most famous sideshow attractions of the era, include Siamese twins Daisy and Violet Hilton and Johnny Eck, the “Legless Boy.” So disturbing that it was banned for 30 years in Great Britain, you’ve got your chance to catch this classic of controversial cinema at the Manship Theatre Friday night. Tickets are $9.50. 10 p.m.