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The Elephant Man (1980)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
10 October 1980 (USA) moreTagline:
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 synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations moreNewsDesk:
(20 articles)
John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The Rt Interview (From Rotten Tomatoes. 4 November 2009, 12:35 AM, PST)
John Hurt to be a BFI Fellow
(From HeyUGuys. 7 October 2009, 12:56 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
In a word - excellent but also extremely sad... 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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
124 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreSound Mix:
DolbyCertification:
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:12Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Following the death of the real Joseph "John" Merrick, parts of his body were preserved for medical science to study. Some internal organs were kept in jars, and plaster casts were taken of his head, an arm, and a foot. Although the organs were destroyed by German air raids during the Second World War, the casts survived and are kept at the London Hospital. The makeup for John Hurt, who played Merrick in the film, was designed directly from those casts. moreQuotes:
[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
Soundtrack:
Adagio For Strings moreFAQ
Did everything happen to Merrick just like in the film?Is this film based on any particular account of the life of Joseph Merrick?
How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
more
more (264 total)
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Hi all,
I saw this movie for the 1st time on 5th December 1999. I was about to go to sleep as it was about 00-40 in the morning and I flicked over to the movie and even though I was falling asleep as I flicked over to it, within five minutes I was wide awake and totally captivated.
Everyone knows the tale of John Merrick, it is so sad and painful to watch and see a man with above average intelligence trapped by his physical deformity and to be physically and mentally abused and tortured for a few meagre pence.
I thought Sir John Gieulgud(?) and Sir Anthony Hopkins were both excellent in their respective roles. John Hurt did Merrick proud.
I had a bit more than water in my eye on 4 occasions during this movie and not ashamed to admit it either. This is the 1st movie to make me cry.
On the Kleenex scale - Titanic is 1 and this is 10!
A movie not to be missed but be prepared to be disgusted and upset by the story told.
ThePM