IMDb > The Elephant Man (1980)
The Elephant Man
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Elephant Man (1980) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 38 | slideshow) Videos (see all 4)
The Elephant Man (1980) -- Based on a true story, the film examines the complex emotional experiences faced by John Merrick, "The Elephant Man" (John Hurt), when he is discovered by a dedicated surgeon (Anthony Hopkins).
The Elephant Man (1980) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
David Lynch
Writers:
Christopher De Vore (screenplay) &
Eric Bergren (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Elephant Man on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 October 1980 (USA) more
Genre:
Biography | Drama | History more
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. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(24 articles)
Danny Arroyo on new film Repo Chick and his passion for superheroes
 (From The Geek Files. 23 November 2009, 12:47 PM, PST)
The second outing of John Hurt
 (From The Guardian - TV News. 20 November 2009, 4:11 PM, PST)
User Comments:
a perfect film more (264 total)

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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Colour:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
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 more
Company:
Brooksfilms more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Cameo: [David Lynch]when Merrick returns to London, he is chased by an angry mob, and flees underground. The shot of the crowd descending the stairs in pursuit features Lynch in full costume. more
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. 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.
more
Movie Connections:
Spoofed in "Muchachada nui: (#3.12)" (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Adagio For Strings more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
Did everything happen to Merrick just like in the film?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
176 out of 190 people found the following comment useful.
a perfect film, 6 November 2004
Author: (Bastian Balthazar Bux) from Iowa City, IA

If one was to turn on David Lynch's The Elephant Man midway through, without knowing what it was, one might be startled at the appearance of the main character. One might even be tempted to make fun of the character. But if one was to watch the film from the beginning, one's sympathy with John Merrick (John Hurt), 'The Elephant Man,' would be strong enough to deny that the former situation was ever a possibility. Lynch does not allow his audience to glimpse Merrick sans mask until his appearance has been built up substantially. When we the audience are at our zenith of anticipation, we see him-no dramatic music, no slow motion; a simple cut and he's there. There he is. And it's no big deal.

This is the beauty of Lynch's direction. We are led through our morbid curiosity at the same rate the characters in the film are. We develop alongside them. More specifically, we develop alongside Frederick Treeves, played with an astounding sublimity of emotion by Anthony Hopkins. Next to Treeves we pity Merrick, respect him, pity him again, and then ask ourselves with him, 'is he just a spectacle to me? Am I a bad person?'

Lynch certainly doesn't let us bypass this question easily. Are we bad people for being intrigued or are we good people for pitying? Certainly there is a mix of intrigue and pity with every character who first meets John, and we are not excluded. However, as with almost every character who truly comes to know John and confer with him, we learn to respect him as a human being and not as a spectacle. Nonetheless, this issue never finds close in the film, nor do I feel it ever can be closed in actual life. Hopkin's Treeves is never fully sated in how he feels about this dilemma, and so, neither can we be.

Technically, The Elephant Man is a beautifully shot film. In crisp black and white, the film recalls the cinematic technique of American cinema circa the 1930's. The scenes dissolve into one another; there is no brisk editing. The lighting is kept low-key during dark scenes, balanced during daytime scenes-this is standard film-making of the era. The one digression from this form are the distinctly Lynchian surrealities-pseudo-dream-sequences of commendably original imagery that break up the film and serve as distinct mood-setters for the audience. These are, for the most part, fairly intimidating sidenotes. We as an audience are caught off-guard because in these tangents we are not identifying with Treeves, we are put instead into Merrick's shoes. It is unsettling.

But Lynch has never been a director to flinch at unsettling prospects. We must watch Merrick beaten, abused, harassed, humiliated, and tormented. We may feel a surge of happiness when he finally stands up for himself, but by that point we still have to cope with what we've already, what he's already, experienced. I suppose that is the greatest and most devastating aspect of the film-empathy. Every moment is heartbreaking. Yet no matter how hard it gets, and how much better it then turns, there is always the threat of another jab. And those jabs only get more and more painful.

The Elephant Man is a perfect film. It is sorrowful but it apologizes not at all for it. It is a film about where our empathy stems from, a film that asks you to feel sorry but rebukes you for your blind pity. It asks you to respect Merrick, not cry for him. But you can't help crying. The Elephant Man is a film that treks you through despair and asks for your hope in the end. It asks you to hate humanity but to love the humane. It asks you to look at a man who appears sad and know that inside, he's okay.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (264 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Elephant Man (1980)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Why is it b+w if it's from the 80's? lady-dinobug
Working class carloshache
What is the line between exploitation and non-exploitation film? magiclove
Ending Song from Platoon!?!? boxster8
The Elephant Man VS Edward Scissorhands maxmal86
Elephant Man BluRay Release Announced... brianpritchard
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Elephant Man From Hell Johnny Got His Gun Dead Ringers Edvard Munch
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Biography section
IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.