The Elephant Man (1980)

Director:

David Lynch

Writers:

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

Release Date:

10 October 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

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 | Hospital | Curiosity | Deformity | Actress

Awards:

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

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
Orla Pederson	...	Skeleton Man
Patsy Smart	...	Distraught Woman
Frederick Treves	...	Alderman
Stromboli	...	Fire Eater
Richard Hunter	...	Hodges
James Cormack	...	Pierce
Robert Lewis Bush	...	Messenger (as Robert Bush)
Roy Evans	...	Cabman
Joan Rhodes	...	Cook
Nula Conwell	...	Nurse Kathleen
Tony London	...	Young Porter
Alfie Curtis	...	Milkman
Bernadette Milnes	...	1st Fighting Woman
Brenda Kempner	...	2nd Fighting Woman
Carol Harrison	...	Tart (as Carole Harrison)
Hugh Manning	...	Broadneck
Dennis Burgess	...	1st Committee Man
Fanny Carby	...	Mrs. Kendal's Dresser
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Man In Pub (as Morgan Sheppard)
Kathleen Byron	...	Lady Waddington
Gerald Case	...	Lord Waddington
David Ryall	...	Man With Whores
Deirdre Costello	...	1st Whore
Pauline Quirke	...	2nd Whore
Kenny Baker	...	Plumed Dwarf
Chris Greener	...	Giant
Marcus Powell	...	Midget
Gilda Cohen	...	Midget
Lesley Scoble	...	Siamese Twin (as Lisa Scoble)
Teri Scoble	...	Siamese Twin
Eiji Kusuhara	...	Japanese Bleeder
Robert Day	...	Little Jim
Patricia Hodge	...	Screaming Mum
Tommy Wright	...	First Bobby
Peter Davidson	...	Second Bobby
John Rapley	...	King In Panto
Hugh Spight	...	Puss In Panto
Teresa Codling	...	Princess In Panto
Marion Betzold	...	Principal Boy
Caroline Haigh	...	Tree
Florenzio Morgado	...	Tree
Victor Kravchenko	...	Lion / Coachman
Beryl Hicks	...	Fairy
Michele Amas	...	Horse
Lucie Alford	...	Horse
Penny Wright	...	Horse
Janie Kells	...	Horse
Lydia Lisle	...	Merrick's Mother
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eric Bergren	...	Lyra Box Player #1 (uncredited)
Adam Caine	...	Kid at Train Station (uncredited)
Christopher De Vore	...	Lyra Box Player #2 (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Norman Gay	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Ralph Morse	...	Young aristocrat (uncredited)
Kevin Schumm	...	Kid at Train Station #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
David Lynch

Writing credits
Christopher De Vore		(screenplay) &
Eric Bergren		(screenplay) &
David Lynch		(screenplay)
Frederick Treves		(book "The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences") (as Sir Frederick Treves)
Ashley Montagu		(in part on the book "The Elephant Man: A Study in Human Dignity")

Produced by
Stuart Cornfeld	....	executive producer
Jonathan Sanger	....	producer
Mel Brooks	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
John Morris

Cinematography by
Freddie Francis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Anne V. Coates

Casting by
Maggie Cartier

Production Design by
Stuart Craig

Art Direction by
Robert Cartwright		(as Bob Cartwright)

Set Decoration by
Hugh Scaife

Costume Design by
Patricia Norris

Makeup Department
Paula Gillespie	....	hairdresser
Stephanie Kaye	....	hairdresser
Beryl Lerman	....	makeup artist
Michael Morris	....	makeup artist
Wally Schneiderman	....	makeup application: 'Elephant Man'
Wally Schneiderman	....	makeup supervisor
Christopher Tucker	....	makeup creator: 'Elephant Man'
Christopher Tucker	....	makeup designer: 'Elephant Man'

Production Management
Terence A. Clegg	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerry Gavigan	....	second assistant director
Anthony Waye	....	assistant director
Andy Armstrong	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Reg Richards	....	construction manager
Terry Wells	....	property master
John Roberts	....	set designer (uncredited)
Adrian Start	....	chargehand painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Robin Gregory	....	sound mixer
Peter Horrocks	....	sound editor
John Iles	....	engineer: Dolby
David Lynch	....	sound designer
Alan Splet	....	sound designer
Alan Splet	....	special sound effects
Doug E. Turner	....	dubbing mixer (as Doug Turner)
Terry Sharratt	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Graham Longhurst	....	special effects
Neil Corbould	....	special effects (uncredited)
Paul Corbould	....	special effects (uncredited)
Martin Gutteridge	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)
Garth Inns	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Smith	....	optical cameraman: Camera Effects Ltd (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Connor	....	still photographer
Jim Dawes	....	dolly grip
Jerry Dunkley	....	camera operator
Roy Larner	....	gaffer
Wick Finch	....	electrician (uncredited)
John Matthews	....	best boy (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tiny Nicholls	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Patrick Moore	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
John Morris	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Brian Hathaway	....	transportation
Gerry Turner	....	transportation

Other crew
Randy Auerbach	....	researcher
Ceri Evans	....	continuity
Graham Ford	....	location manager
Loretta Ordewer	....	production secretary
John Trehy	....	production accountant
Ellen Adolph	....	manager of production accounting (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Brooksfilms

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1980) (USA) (theatrical)
• Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1980) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Film & Teater (1981) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Adams Filmi (1981) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Thorn EMI Video (1980s) (Finland) (video)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD) (HD DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2009) (Finland) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• TV3 (1989) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (1997) (Finland) (TV)
• Zazie Films (2004) (Japan) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Vietnam) (DVD)
• Leader Music (2011) (Argentina) (DVD) (as Leader Vision)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (UK) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1986) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paramount Home Video (1981) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Plus Video (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Solopan (1980) (Poland) (all media)
• Thorn EMI Video Australia (1983) (Australia) (VHS)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (HD-DVD)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2009) (Sweden) (DVD)
• VTI Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Sweden) (DVD) (HD-DVD)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Delta Sound Services  sound re-recording
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment (uncredited)
• National Philharmonic Orchestra  music played by
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

"Elephant Man" - Japan (English title)

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

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 | 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 | Peru:14 | Denmark:15 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Broadgate, London, England, UK

Company:

Brooksfilms

Trivia:

Although critically acclaimed, there are some film critics (including Roger Ebert) who accuse the film of excessive sentiment. They tend to attribute it to David Lynch relying heavily on Frederick Treves' memoirs for source material.

Goofs:

Continuity: When we see an image of smoking pipe stacks, its obviously stock footage because its much grainer then the rest of the film.

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:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Horror of Party Beach (#9.17)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Adagio For Strings

amazing....but not for the weak at heart

this is a brilliantly done film. it is quite raw and blunt about its subject matter, however, so it should not be viewed for "entertainment" purposes, thought he story is inherently intriguing. we must just sit and watch in curiousity and amazement, but in concurrence with extreme sorrow, as we are shown the brutality that john merrick must face as his reality. a smile from another human being, or even a pleasant greeting (which is something that we all take for granted), is treated by this man as the highest form of complimentary behavior possible.

one of the best films that i have ever seen. it wouldnt be called a top 25 of all-time film by the public (though i may place it there), however, based solely on the fact that it, as i mentioned earlier, is lacking in terms of typical "entertainment" value. even though you will certainly be immersed the entire way through. ah, who knows! im not expressing myself very well. make it a priority to see this film. enjoy

absolutely amazing and memorable - 10/10