50 Years Ago: “The Mutations” a.k.a. “Freakmaker”

September 25, 1974 was the release date of the horror film The Mutations a.k.a. Freakmaker.

The Mutations is the farthest thing from a classic, even (arguably) a horror classic, but it has its selling points. It was directed by Jack Cardiff, best known as the cinematographer of films like Powell-Pressburger’sBlack Narcissus (1947) and The Red Shoes (1948) and John Huston’sThe African Queen (1951), as well as the director of the critically acclaimed 1960 adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’sSons and Lovers, and the 1965 bio-pic of Sean O’Casey,Young Cassidy. When one speculates as to why he would be attracted to such a project as The Mutations, one can only imagine that he was attracted by the special effects challenges. There is some stop motion action in the film, and plenty of stuff with gizmos and gaffs. And concievably, you could get a classic out of a mash-up of Freaks, Frankenstein, and The Island of Dr. Moreau, which this film essentially is, although, in the minds of many, it’s unintentionally closer to the original Little Shop of Horrors. (Literally. At one point, a tramp is literally fed to a giant Venus Flytrap).

The plot? Donald Pleasance is a mad professor who wants to interfere with evolution. He performs experiments on his college students. His large, deformed assistant is played by Tom Baker, who had just become the fourth and longest serving Doctor Who, wearing very nearly the same costume. The hero is played by Brad Harris, best known for playing characters like Samson, Goliath, and Hercules in Italian “Sword and Sandal” epics. The damsel is played by Norwegian pageant queen Julie Ege, a former Penthouse Pet, Bond Girl, and veteran of Hammer films.

That’s all well and good, but the real reason I thought it significant to celebrate this film today is that it involves the SIDESHOW. That is where all of the mad scientist’s botched experiments wind up! Mutations features appearances by numerous figures of genuine sideshow royalty as well as other born different stars in the cast. The biggest name among them is the great little person actor Michael Dunn (it was one of his last films, released posthumously). Also in the cast are Willie “Popeye” Ingram and “Alligator Girl” Esther Blackmon. Most of the rest of the “mutations” were genuine born different performers as well, with their character names indicating both their roles and their identities as attractions: Tony Mayne (Dwarf Tony), Molly Tweedlie (Dwarf Molly), Kathy Kitchen (Midget Kathy), Fran Fullenwider (Fat Lady), Leslie Roose (Skinny Lady), Fay Bura (Bearded Lady), Bob Bura (Fire Eater), Orla Pederson (Human Pincushion), Madge Garnett (Monkey Woman), Hugh Bailey (Pretzel Boy), and Felix Duarte (Frog Boy).

Thus the film has some documentary value, beyond whatever lurid entertainment it offers. The reviews were not good however, which may have something to do with the fact that Jack Cardiff never directed another movie after this. He returned to cinematography, with many more well-known films ahead of him, including such things as Death on the Nile (1978) and Conan the Destroyer (1984), and even more horror films like The Awakening (1980), Ghost Story (1981), and Cat’s Eye (1985).

Just a few viewing suggestions, if nothing else, as we head into the Halloween season!