The Elephant Man (film)

The Elephant Man is a 1980 biographical film that tells the story of the 19th century British deformed celebrity, Joseph Merrick. It stars Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon and Freddie Jones. The movie was adapted by Christopher De Vore, Eric Bergren and David Lynch from the book The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity by Sir Frederick Treves and Ashley Montagu and was directed by Lynch. For artistic reasons, it was shot in black-and-white.

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role (John Hurt), Art Direction-Set Decoration, Costume Design, Director, Film Editing, Music: Original Score, and Writing: Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.

It was also won BAFTA Awards for Best Film, Actor (John Hurt) and Production Design, and was nominated for four others: Direction, Screenplay, Cinematography and Editing.

Story

The story begins with Dr Frederick Treves (Hopkins) discovering John Merrick (Hurt) in a Victorian freak show where he is managed by the brutish Bytes (Jones). Merrick is so hideously deformed that he must wear a hood when in public. Also, Bytes claims his exhibit is an imbecile. Treves is moved by Merrick's condition and pays Bytes to bring him to his hospital so that he can inspect him and present a lecture on his peculiar physique, at which Treves coldly displays him as a mere curiosity. On Merrick's return, Bytes beats him so severely that Treves is called, who attempts to take him back to the hospital. Bytes confronts Treves and accuses him of also exploiting Merrick for his own ends, which leads the surgeon to resolve to do what he can to help the unfortunate man.

The ward nurses are revolted by Merrick's appearance, so Treves places him in a quarantine room under the watchful care of the dour matron, Mothershead (Hiller). Mr Carr Gomm (Gielgud), the Governor of the Hospital, questions Treves about the infectious patient and reminds him that the place cannot entertain an incurable. Treves attempts to coach Merrick (who has thus far remained mute) to recite a few polite sentences such as "Hello. My name is John Merrick." However, during his interview with Carr Gomm, the confused and anxious Merrick breaks down. Carr Gomm leaves, telling Treves it was a good attempt, but the man is an obvious imbecile. As Carr Gomm walks away, Treves hears Merrick in a strong and confident voice recite the 23rd Psalm and he calls back his superior.

It is soon revealed that Merrick is in fact a sophisticated and articulate person, and that his playing dumb is merely a defence mechanism to avoid the beatings of Bytes. Carr Gomm arranges a set of rooms at the hospital, and Queen Victoria — having learnt of Merrick — instructs funds to be set aside for his care. He makes drawings and models of churches and reads. Merrick visits the home of Treves and his wife (Gordon) and reveals his most treasured possession, a portrait of his mother. When he states his hope that his mother would love him if she could only see what lovely friends he now has, Mrs Treves breaks down and begins to weep, much to her embarrassment. Merrick begins to receive society visitors in his rooms including the actress Mrs Kendall (Bancroft) and becomes a celebrity. He becomes so successful at this that the head nurse complains that it seems that Merrick is still being treated as a freak show attraction, albeit in a more upper class, celebrated style. For Treves' part, this observation and his role in this situation deeply trouble him, and he begins to question whether or not he has done the right thing.

However the rooms are not secure, and a night porter (Elphick) begins to exploit Merrick. Also Bytes learns how to get to his former "property" and abducts him to continental Europe where he is put on show again. The very ill-treated Merrick escapes with the help of the sympathetic staff of the show and manages to make it back to London. However, he is harassed by a group of boys at a train station, and accidentally knocks down a young girl. This causes him to be chased, unmasked, and cornered by an angry mob, at which point Merrick angrily asserts his humanity in the film's most famous scene, saying, "I am not an animal! I am a human being! I... am... a man!" He then collapses from exhaustion.

Meanwhile, Treves is consumed with guilt and, with the help of Mothershead, he takes action against the night porter. When the police bring Merrick back to the hospital, he is re-installed in his rooms in the hospital and makes some recovery but it is clear that he is dying. As a treat, Mrs Kendall arranges an evening at the theatre where Merrick receives an ovation. That night, back at the hospital, Merrick thanks Treves and for the first time sleeps lying down — even though he knows this will kill him (because of his oversized head, which he had to rest on his knees lest it snap his neck). The spirit of his beloved mother appears to comfort him during the last scene of the movie.

Trivia

The film was produced by Mel Brooks but he downplayed his involvement as he did not want the project to be perceived as a comedy.

The Elephant Man's name was Joseph, not John, Merrick. When Frederick Treves wrote his memoir, he referred to him as John. Why Treves changed the name is unclear.

The make-up for John Hurt was made from casts of Merrick's body, which had been preserved at the Royal London Hospital. David Lynch originally attempted to do the make-up himself but this was not filmable. The final make-up was devised by Christopher Tucker.

In addition to writing and directing the film, David Lynch provided the musical direction and sound design. During its depiction of the final moments of Merrick's life, the film uses "Adagio for Strings" by Samuel Barber. This has been partly responsible for a resurgence in the piece's popularity (it would be later used in the 1986 Oscar-winning Vietnam war film, Platoon).

External links

The Elephant Man at All Movie Guide
The Elephant Man at the Arts & Faith Top 100 Spiritually Significant Films list

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Story

Trivia

See also

External links