Synopsis
Conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton were once the cream of the sideshow crop. Taught to sing and dance at an early age, the winsome duo ascended through the early 20th-century vaudeville circuit as a side attraction (working alongside Bob Hope and Charlie Chaplin as well as a memorable turn in the Tod Browning classic "Freaks") before a cascade of unscrupulous management and harsh mistreatment brought their careers (and lives) tumbling down. This engrossing glimpse into a bygone era is filled with fascinating interviews and rare archival footage.
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Cast
- Daisy HiltonSelf (archive footage)
- Violet HiltonSelf (archive footage)
- Lea ThompsonVoiceover
- Nancy AllenVoiceover
- Tim StackVoiceover
- Blake BoydVoiceover
Recommendations
- 80
New York Daily News
Most of all, she (Zemeckis) brings generosity and compassion to the Hiltons’ tragic story. - 80
The Hollywood Reporter
In telling their remarkable story, filmmaker Leslie Zemeckis has not only etched a heart-wrenching portrait of their individual and dual misfortunes, she has subtly illuminated on the general public's dark fascination with “freaks.” - 75
Christian Science Monitor
I found it immensely touching that these women found it in themselves to keep plugging away. Despite everything, they ended their days with a measure of peace and happiness. - 70
Los Angeles Times
[An] absorbing, well-crafted documentary. - 70
The New York Times
It would be hard not to make a thought-provoking, heartstring-tugging film from this source material, and Bound by Flesh certainly tells the twins’ story effectively. - 50
Village Voice
If Bound by Flesh sorely lacks the perspective of the physically atypical community, it's at least a fascinating look at the transformations in the entertainment industry in the last century.