18. Freaks - Quack Like a Duck! (1932)
Political correctness in media now determines how disabled people are portrayed. But in 1932 America they were just known as Freaks. Tod Browning, a man who was first of all a damn good horror film director and secondly, had actual experience of working with carnival performers in a travelling circus, made this infamous film. He took the radical step of using real life carnival performers as people in the film, not actors with costumes. Audiences all over America gave a collective gasp when they watched the film with its 'freaks'. There was a skeleton man, bearded lady, pinheads, dwarves, siamese twins among others. Browning portrayed the 'freaks' as innocent, child-like peaceable people whereas the regular people were scheming, greedy and manipulative. But even gentle 'freaks' have their limit. In the film's most controversial scene, the 'freaks' turn Cleopatra the trapeze artist into a hideous squawking duck like creature for trying to be a gold digger to one of the little people. The scene takes place in the middle of a storm and the sight of the freaks joined together attacking Cleopatra is quite unnerving. The film was not passed for release by the BBFC until 30 years later so great was the film's power to create controversy.