F. Scott Fitzgerald was a member of the MGM writing department at the time the movie was in production. He never felt quite at home with all the movie stars and powerful moguls, and so he often dined in the commissary at the table of the sideshow attractions (freaks) during his lunch hour.
Dwarf actor Angelo Rossitto, who appeared as Angeleno, would go on to a successful career in TV and films including Little Moe in the Robert Blake TV series "Baretta" (1975) and as one half of the giant Master Blaster opposite Mel Gibson in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985).
Schlitze, the microcephalic member of the cast who appears to be female, was actually a male. The dress was worn for reasons of personal hygiene.
I honestly don’t consider ‘Freaks’ to be a great film (though I consider Browning’s ‘Dracula’ to be great), but it is strange and very compelling.
It’s more of an experience than a great movie, I think. Some very powerful and sometimes disturbing imagery. It stays with the viewer, no doubt about it.