For those hording toilet paper

On a separate note, the "human torso" lighting up a cigarette with a match on his own, with just his mouth, was amazing! And the way Browning provides individual scenes depicting the everyday of those in the circus, relationships and conversations, with humor that comments on how they interact with each other is rather refreshing and even endearing. To see them outside the spotlight of how supposed normal folk recognize them--as certain actors at MGM saw them as "exhibits on display"--since Browning grew up with this circus community and looked at them differently (he chose this project and actually paid the price after its notoriety earned him disdain with Hollywood's community), the film dares to express these people as human beings that aren't things. They are different, and maybe their appearance isn't considered worthy of your eyes, but that doesn't mean these people deserve the scorn and ridicule targeted at them. As a timepiece, this film is fascinating, but it has earned a deserved re-evaluation and reputation as a classic.