8mm Forum: Who released "Freaks" on super 8?

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Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 07, 2011, 12:44 PM:

The title pretty much says it all ...

Who released Todd Brownings classic "Freaks" on Super 8? I know that it is EXTREMELY RARE!

Posted by Brad Kimball (Member # 5) on April 07, 2011, 01:32 PM:

I'm pretty sure it was released in GB, but I don't know who the distributor was. Does anyone across the waters know the answer to this one?

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on April 07, 2011, 01:47 PM:

I believe I once read of a company called Famous Films releasing a limited number of prints in the US.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 08, 2011, 10:26 AM:

ThanX 4 the info fellas!

Posted by Larry Arpin (Member # 744) on April 08, 2011, 02:22 PM:

I believe Famous Films only sold other people's films. I could be wrong. Wasn't this Art Edelson's company in Florida? He bought quite a few films from me back in the days. I talked to Ron Knorr about him and he said he probably wasn't with us anymore as he was old back then.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on April 08, 2011, 02:24 PM:

Hi Larry,

I believe they were based in Florida but I know no more than this about the company. I just remember reading this somewhere - in fact, I think it was here on this forum. Try a search.

Posted by Eberhard Nuffer (Member # 410) on April 10, 2011, 07:13 AM:

Larry,

the owner's name was Art Edelstein.

Famous Films was a mail order company based in Florida, and yes, they used to sell films released by other companies like Ken Films as well as optical sound prints (Airline prints).
But indeed the only own release of Famous Films I have ever heard of was "Freaks". It seems that only 10 Super-8 prints were made. They were struck on colour stock on a polyester (estar) base.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on April 10, 2011, 08:27 AM:

... as rare as "Hen's Teeth" ...

which must be quite rare. I've never seen a "Hen's Tooth!"

I did see a copy of "Freaks" on ebay a few years ago and if I remember, it went for almost (or over) three hundred dollars.

Posted by Michael O'Regan (Member # 938) on May 24, 2012, 02:13 PM:

Here's a rare one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8mm-feature-Freaks-on-super-8-sound-film-/200764367847?pt=US_Film&hash=item2ebe7d23e7#ht_500wt_1202

Posted by Hugh Thompson Scott (Member # 2922) on May 24, 2012, 02:20 PM:

Some years back I was offered a print by Phil Sheard and I passed
on it because I did think the subject matter a bit tasteless.As for
rarity Osi,try rocking horse s#*=! Now that is rare.

Posted by Allan Broadfield (Member # 2298) on May 25, 2012, 07:24 AM:

Regarding the theatrical release, the film 'Freaks' was banned in the UK until the sixties. I saw it in the early sixties at the Paris Pullman cinema, an art house in Chelsea, where it was advertised as the first showing in Britain. Did seem shocking at the time, but TV makes this sort of material fairly common these days.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on May 25, 2012, 01:13 PM:

My gosh, the print is talked about again and there it pops up for sale, (neat irony there!) ...

... and lets just watch THIS one go up in price! It could certainly hit a record amount! Another case of "If only I was made of money!" situation.

By the way, a beautiful looking print as well!

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