Tod Browning's Sideshow Shockers - The Criterion Collection

Collection of three horrors and dramas directed by Tod Browning.

In 'Freaks' (1932), when trapeze artist Cleopatra (Olga Baclanova) learns that Hans (Harry Earles) stands to inherit a sizeable amount of money, she decides to seduce him and colludes with her lover, the strongman Hercules (Henry Victor), to kill Hans so that she can inherit his wealth.

When the rest of the carnival performers learn of the plot, their revenge is swift and grotesque. 'The Unknown' (1927) stars Lon Chaney as knife thrower Alonzo the Armless.

A fugitive on the run from the law, Alonzo keeps his arms strapped tightly to his torso, a secret known only to one person.

He is in love with Nanon (Joan Crawford), his assistant, but his competition with strongman Malabar (Norman Kerry) for her affections leads to tragedy.

Finally, in 'The Mystic' (1925), fraudulent psychic Zara (Aileen Pringle) and con artist Michael Nash (Conway Tearle) work together to enter American high society, where they proceed to swindle the wealthy out of their fortunes through fake seances.