Exploitation Season: The 1930’s. Movie #4 ‘The Terror Of Tiny Town’ (1938)

If it were the case in the 1930’s that the success of a man could be attributed to his acquisition of midgets, then Jed Buell was the Donald Trump of his day. ‘The Terror of Tiny Town’ features an ‘All Midget Cast’ of none other than ‘Jed Buell’s Midgets’. Yes folks, step right up to witness the all singing, all dancing, hootin’, shootin’, rootin’ and hollerin’ collection of pint size Sheriffs, diminutive cattle rustlers and half measure drunkards. This was pretty much how ‘The Terror of Tiny Town’ was marketed, a direct cinematic transfer of a sideshow act. The tone is set straight away in which an announcer welcomes us all to have a bit of a laugh at a varied collection of small people. He is interrupted by the two stars of the show, who ensure us that this is no comedy, and is to be treated as a serious feature. The credits don’t even attribute character names to the actors, they are merely known as ‘The Hero’, ‘The Villain’ etc. We are then transported to a western town were the inhabitants sing about ‘slashing your blues away with your sledgehammer.’ Sound advice methinks. The fundamental flaw in ‘The Terror of Tiny Town’ is that it’s essentially a one trick (Shetland) pony. The fact that the cast is made up of circus performers and sideshow attractions is all there is to it. It is an act that may have delighted several hundred attendees at a Vaudeville show, but fails to transfer to the big screen with any grace or humour whatsoever. The cast ride around on miniature horses, lassoing tiny calves with clumsy ineptitude. What would have caused roars of laughter in the fleapits, leaves the viewer decidedly cold. It would be wrong to attack the actors for the poor performances, they were after all, commodities, they were possessions who did what they were told. It is the lack of empathy and the abundance of snickering and finger pointing that leaves this an altogether charmless affair. The result is a long winded Western of poor and predictable quality. It lacks the heart of Tod Browning’s ‘Freaks’, which allowed it’s outsider cast to voice their frustrations at the attitudes of an ignorant, unsympathetic society, this feature however, encourages us to do no more than point and laugh. In the sense of Exploitation, this is as literal as it gets. A turn of the (20th) Century sideshow brought to life before your very eyes. As a historical reference point it is interesting, and definitely worth watching, for it portrays the humour, harshness and apathy that people felt towards those of whom had the misfortune to be born different. The film maintains a cult status today and is referenced in movies (Johnny Suede), music (Dead Kennedy’s Jello Biafra) and TV (M*A*S*H*). The reason for the references lies, I imagine, in the obscurity of the concept more than the execution of the feature. It’s a shallow and saddening piece, but one which is worth watching nonetheless. Make your mind up for yourself.

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