The Elephant Man (1980)

Director:

David Lynch

Writers:

Christopher De Vore (screenplay) &
Eric Bergren (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History

Tagline:

I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man!

Plot:

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous facade, there is revealed a person of intelligence and sensitivity.

Plot Keywords:

Freak | Dignity | 19th Century | London England | Channel Crossing

Awards:

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Anthony Hopkins	...	Frederick Treves
John Hurt	...	John Merrick
Anne Bancroft	...	Mrs. Kendal
John Gielgud	...	Carr Gomm
Wendy Hiller	...	Mothershead
Freddie Jones	...	Bytes
Michael Elphick	...	Night Porter
Hannah Gordon	...	Mrs. Treves
Helen Ryan	...	Princess Alex
John Standing	...	Fox
Dexter Fletcher	...	Bytes' Boy
Lesley Dunlop	...	Nora
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Merrick's Mother
Pat Gorman	...	Fairground Bobby
Claire Davenport	...	Fat Lady

Also Known As:

Der Elefantenmensch (Austria) (West Germany) [de]
O Homem Elefante (Brazil) (Portugal) [pt]
Covek slon (Serbia) [sr]
Czlowiek slon (Poland) [pl]
El hombre elefante (Spain) [es]
Elefantmannen (Sweden) [sv]
Elefantmannen (Norway) [no]
Elefanttimies (Finland) [fi]
Elephant Man (France) [fr]
Fil adam (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Ish Ha-Peel (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]
L'homme éléphant (Canada: French title) [fr]
O anthropos elefantas (Greece) [el]
Sloní muz (Czech Republic) [cs]
Sloní muz (Slovakia) [sk]

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Iceland:LH | Italy:VM14 | Spain:T | USA:PG (Approved No.26063) | Denmark:11 | Israel:PG | Netherlands:12 | South Africa:PG | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Brazil:10 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:12 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Broadgate, London, England, UK

Company:

Brooksfilms

Trivia:

Keith Barron was cut out of this film

Goofs:

Continuity: When Carr Gomm first meets John Merrick, he walks close up to him. In the next shot he is way back from him, then close again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Skeleton Man: Get rid of them! I don't want to see them!
Fat Lady: Darling, don't be difficult! Let's take our sweet lovely children on an outing.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Skin Horse (1983)

Soundtrack:

Adagio For Strings

Nothing Will Die.

This movie changed my life forever. To see someone so beautiful, dignified, and unique, hidden behind a body and face that society considers ugly, made me realize how the body is a decaying pile of dust, but the soul is a breath-taking and uniquely formed indestructible diamond.

I believe that everyone should get a chance to see this film, for those of an open mind, and a caring soul, there is nothing else like it.

It also shows the detestable ways some people treat others. I felt at first pity for John Merrick, but then my feelings changed to admiration, as the film went on. John, in the film starts as a severely deformed mute figure being badly mistreated, as the story progresses, he becomes the hero. A bold and courageous man, standing against the evils of modern society.

Joseph (John) Merrick, was a man so one-of-a-kind, that someone else like him physically or emotionally will never appear again. His life should be taken as an example to everyone.

As in the film, John's mother says "Nothing will Die", Joseph Merrick will live on in the hearts and souls of everyone who has witnessed the story of his life.

My love goes to Joseph Merrick, where ever he may be.