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The Elephant Man (1980) 8.3
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. Director:David Lynch |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Anthony Hopkins | ... | ||
| John Hurt | ... | ||
| Anne Bancroft | ... | ||
| John Gielgud | ... | ||
| Wendy Hiller | ... | ||
| Freddie Jones | ... | ||
| Michael Elphick | ... | ||
| Hannah Gordon | ... |
Mrs. Treves
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Helen Ryan | ... | |
| John Standing | ... |
Fox
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| Dexter Fletcher | ... |
Bytes' Boy
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| Lesley Dunlop | ... |
Nora
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| Phoebe Nicholls | ... | ||
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Pat Gorman | ... |
Fairground Bobby
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Claire Davenport | ... |
Fat Lady
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Edit
Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
John Merrick (whose real name was Joseph, as this is based on a true story) is an intelligent and friendly man, but he is hated by his Victorian-era English society because he is severely deformed. Once he is discovered by a doctor, however, he is saved from his life in a freak show and he is treated like the human being that he really is. Written by Sam Cibula
Taglines:
I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man!Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
10 October 1980 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
El hombre elefante See more »Box Office
Budget:
$5,000,000 (estimated)Gross:
SEK 2,253,306 (Sweden)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
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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.
See more »
Homer talks about this movie in a deleted scene See more »
By Samuel Barber
Played by London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by André Previn (as Andre Previn)
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Helen Ryan, who played Princess Alex, also played the same person in the mini series Edward the King. See more »Goofs
When Fredrick Treves is bring up the oatmeal to John Merrick and Carr Gomm startles him he puts the oatmeal behind his back as to hide it from him. In the next shot he has the oatmeal in front of him and puts it behind his back again while he is walking towards Carr Gomm. See more »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.
See more »
Crazy Credits
Closing disclaimer: This has been based upon the true life story of John Merrick, known as The Elephant Man, and not upon the Broadway play of the same title or any other fictional account. See more »Connections
Referenced in The Simpsons: Homer vs. Patty and Selma (1995)Homer talks about this movie in a deleted scene See more »
Soundtracks
"Adagio For Strings"By Samuel Barber
Played by London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by André Previn (as Andre Previn)
See more »
I first saw The Elephant Man at its pre-release showing in 1980, and it struck an immediate and resonant chord with me. Few movies are like this, and it remains (many viewings later) one of my top 10 films of all time.
The plot is presented well in other reviews here, so I will not repeat it or comment further. Of the film itself I would only add that it is without doubt the most mature and satisfying of David Lynch's works - in many ways it is the final, polished jewel carved from the rough and ugly (but fascinating) diamond of Eraserhead, with the self-conscious artiness and juvenile qualities of the earlier film distilled into a potent and poignant statement on the human condition.
Some critics have dismissed The Elephant Man as an exercise in emotional manipulation, however I believe this completely misses the point. All films are manipulative to some degree, but it is a manipulation in which we as an audience engage by consent. The Elephant Man will stand the final test and it will be appreciated fully by future audiences, in much the same way as Citizen Kane had to wait for some decades until audiences were able to fully comprehend its greatness.