# deformity movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624 "2001-10-20T20:42:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/1 "2001-10-20T20:42:01Z")
I started a thread “Can Anyone Name The Movie? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=94174](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=94174)” where I asked about a movie where the main character is disfigured and falls in love with a beautiful dame. I found out what the movie was, but it left me with a lingering question… why are most of these types of movie (criple/deformed person falls in love), centered on men being “the beast” and women “the beauty.” The reason that pisses me off is men, be it normal or deformed, always go for the “traditional” beauty. Shrek aside, look at how many movies fit that plot summery: “Beauty and the Beast”, “Phantom of the Opera”, the “Man Who Laughs”, “Hunch Back”. Then there’s basic, “monsters” not being excepted movies, like a Man Without a Face, Frankenstein, and the greatest of all, Revenge of the Nerds Part 2. It’s not that I mind men being given these roles, I just feel bad that women are so infrequently encouraged to be happy with who they are. I know… I’m sure they’ll be fine, it’s just that it may be something people would like to see. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/2 "2001-10-20T21:01:40Z")
What about _The Truth about Cats and Dogs_, where the male lead passes up the ethereal beauty of Uma Thurman for the homely visage of, uh, Janeane Garofalo. Okay, bad example. Although I shudder to mention it, the upcoming movie _Shallow Hal_ features a regular looking guy falling in love with a seriously obese woman. Of course, she’s played in the film by Gwyneth Paltrow, so this probably isn’t the best example, either. Hmm. I’m stumped. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/3 "2001-10-20T22:07:45Z")
You need to see “Freak,” directed by Todd Browning and produced in the early '30s. Its the tale of a midget who falls in love with a high wire performer in the circus. The supporting cast is played be real circus performers (including a number of “pin heads,” a man with no arms or legs who rolls his own cigarettes, a bearded woman, and various dwarves)and it gives a great new twist on “beauty and the beast.” ---
**Author:** ![ThisYearsGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@ThisYearsGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisYearsGirl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/4 "2001-10-20T22:51:44Z")
I once saw this older Mexican (?) movie where an “ugly and deformed” girl works for this rich and handsome blind man, who falls in love with her. He somehow gets his sight back, and the first person he sees is his cousin, whom he falls in love with and marries. Then the ugly chick dies. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/5 "2001-10-20T23:59:20Z")
Here’s the thing, a lot of men would pick Janeane Garofalo over Uma Thurman. Garofalo is hardly a monster, or oaf. And the movie “Shallow Hall” seems like it’s a good idea, however the guy in it is Jack Black… hardly a prince by society standards. Shrek was about a female oaf afraid to show her true self to a male oaf. ThisYearsGirl tells a story of: –“ugly and deformed” girl works for this rich and handsome blind man, who falls in love with her. He somehow gets his sight back, and the first person he sees is his cousin, whom he falls in love with and marries. Then the ugly chick dies.– the man would rather get some ass from his cousin and fall in love. I think the deformed girl deserved a little somp’in-somp’in! I think she should have gotten a little thigh. maybe just a little play!? Just kiddin you know what I mean ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/6 "2001-10-21T00:00:51Z")
a little man meat… ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/7 "2001-10-21T00:51:40Z")
man handling… ---
**Author:** ![RichLather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@RichLather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RichLather)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/8 "2001-10-21T01:00:35Z")
> [@](#): > > You need to see “Freak,” directed by Todd Browning and produced in the early '30s. Its the tale of a midget who falls in love with a high wire performer in the circus. The movie’s name is _Freaks_, and it really is a one-of-a-kind movie. The midget you speak of is not a midget. Rather, he has no legs or hips, and his name was Johnny Eck. My favorite part of it is when the other circus freaks realize the trapeze artist has dastardly machinations in store for Johnny, and indulge in a little Circus Justice. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/9 "2001-10-21T01:32:30Z")
I don’t think you’re quite correct, there. Johnny Eck had a big role in the film, but it was the blond midget dude (I forget his name) who falls in love with the “normal” woman. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/10 "2001-10-21T01:46:35Z")
I know I’ve heard of that movie ---
**Author:** ![RichLather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@RichLather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RichLather)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/11 "2001-10-21T02:59:27Z")
**Green Bean** , you are correct. The male “love interest” in the film was indeed a dwarf. I just heard “midget” and got mixed up, thinking that a ‘mere midget’ wouldn’t have been shocking enough to put into a movie like this. Correct me if I’m wrong (again), but wasn’t this particular guy _very_ small, like on the order of Verne Troyer small? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/12 "2001-10-21T03:07:08Z")
**Freaks** was _remade_, believe it or not. The film was **She-Freak** , and it came out in the 1960s. Awful. Real MST-3K material. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/13 "2001-10-21T03:23:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I once saw this older Mexican (?) movie where an “ugly and deformed” girl works for this rich and handsome blind man, who falls in love with her. He somehow gets his sight back, and the first person he sees is his cousin, whom he falls in love with and marries. Then the ugly chick dies. _Marianela_. I’d guess it’s a Spanish movie, not a Mexican one, since it’s based on a novel by a Spaniard, Benito Perez Galdos. We had to read a watered-down version of the novel for one of my high school Spanish classes … ugh. Why they couldn’t have picked something more fun, I’ll never know. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/14 "2001-10-21T03:30:33Z")
I’ve noticed this phenomenon in films, too, not necessarily confined to physical freakiness (think _As Good as it Gets_). Hollywood is fond of the woman-as-ministering-angel-who-makes-broken-men-whole mythos; the women, it seems, are never allowed to have quirks or imperfections of their own. Oh well, time to shut off the VCR and read _Pride and Prejudice_ for the tenth time… ---
**Author:** ![Bboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@Bboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bboy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/15 "2001-10-21T04:01:09Z")
In the OP, if you all recall, **MyFootsZZZ** posed a question: > [@](#): > > why are most of these types of movie (criple/deformed person falls in love), centered on men being “the beast” and women “the beauty.” Then more or less answered it in the very next line: > [@](#): > > The reason that pisses me off is men, be it normal or deformed, always go for the “traditional” beauty. In other words, what is going to sell the most tickets? Just for the record, if I had to pick between Jeneane and Uma, for me - no contest, Jeneane by a mile…but that’s a-_whole_-nother thread. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/16 "2001-10-21T04:44:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bboy \* > \*\*In the OP, if you all recall, **MyFootsZZZ** posed a question: > > > [@](#): > > > > why are most of these types of movie (criple/deformed person falls in love), centered on men being “the beast” and women “the beauty.” > > Then more or less answered it in the very next line: > > > [@](#): > > > > The reason that pisses me off is men, be it normal or deformed, always go for the “traditional” beauty. > > In other words, what is going to sell the most tickets? > > Just for the record, if I had to pick between Jeneane and Uma, for me - no contest, Jeneane by a mile…but that’s a-_whole_-nother thread. \*\* Well, not all men are like that. I’m a guy, and I wouldn’t mind seeing a movie like that. Plus there’s a lot of women who, I think, would like to see a film that has a realistic OR “unattractive” leading lady, (notice I put “unattractive” in “”, because even when looks are concerned, what’s attractive is different for each person). I know your point is what’s fair might not always make money, but if done right I think most any concept could sell. I also think that if you get the right girl, one with an attractive personality, she would be likable across the board. That’s not to say a “beautiful” girl, (by societies standards), can’t be in the movie, or even have a large role. “The Truth About Cats and Dogs” wasn’t a BAD concept, a story LIKE that could have worked with different actresses and a better script. There are people out there who like any sort of love story, I know some people (all women) who even liked “Sweet November”… and they all dragged there boyfriends to see the movie over again. The movie was… just putrid! I really wouldn’t mind seeing a female underdog in a “Beauty and the Beast”, “Hunch Back”, or even “Phantom Of the Opera” type movie. Dosen’t have to be a comedy like, “Cats and Dogs”… it could be a triumph/classic/moveing movie too! It could happen, and people are growing more and more excepting. ---
**Author:** ![Diff\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@Diff\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diff_T)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/17 "2001-10-21T05:14:07Z")
I agree, I think we live in a time where a movie, TV show, plays or even a book with an unconventional female beauty is trying to win over a conventionally handsome man, would be appreciated. I think if done right, it could be popular. Public opinions wont change unless people are introduced to the alternative in a convincing way. I also think short guys have it hard too. I’m 5"5’, not many men that height are cast for anything. Michael J. Fox was in a lot of hits, so a short man CAN be leads in movies that sell tickets, and I think unconventional female beauty can too. There’s no set beauty, we all like different things. Some of us are even afraid to admit that we like “big” women, or large noses… I like women who are stronger than me, and who snore. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/18 "2001-10-21T05:26:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RichLather \* > \*\ ***Green Bean** , you are correct. \*\* Holy flurking schmidt! I was right about something! 🙂 Harry Earle, who played the lead in Freaks was 42 inches tall according to this site: [http://bullseyedesigns.com/sideshow/people/people\_index.htm](http://bullseyedesigns.com/sideshow/people/people_index.htm) It won’t let you link directly to the page on the Earles. Click on “people” and then on “big and little people.” Very interesting site. Also, there is more info on Johnny Eck there. Sorry 'bout the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/19 "2001-10-21T05:46:01Z")
short guys we need to see more of, and older woman falls in love with a younger man we need more of ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2001, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624/20 "2001-10-21T05:55:32Z")
How many of these types of stories are written by men? Or why do men see themselves as monsters that the love of a woman will change them? Cyrano is another great example or the great Steve Martin version called Roxanne. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deformity-movies/88624.md?page=2)