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IMDbPro

The Elephant Man

  • 19801980
  • PGPG
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
238K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,891
311
John Hurt in The Elephant Man (1980)
Watch ’Official Trailer’
Play trailer1:01
3 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, inte... Read allA Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous façade, there is revealed a person of kindness, intelligence and sophistication.
IMDb RATING
8.2/10
238K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,891
311
  • Director
    • David Lynch
  • Writers
    • Christopher De Vore(screenplay)
    • Eric Bergren(screenplay)
    • David Lynch(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anthony Hopkins
    • John Hurt
    • Anne Bancroft
Top credits
  • Director
    • David Lynch
  • Writers
    • Christopher De Vore(screenplay)
    • Eric Bergren(screenplay)
    • David Lynch(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Anthony Hopkins
    • John Hurt
    • Anne Bancroft
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 464User reviews
    • 159Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #155
    • Nominated for 8 Oscars
      • 10 wins & 22 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:01
    Official Trailer
    'The Elephant Man' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:22
    'The Elephant Man' | Anniversary Mashup
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 5
    Video 29:11
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 5

    Photos176

    John Hurt in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Anthony Hopkins and Michael Elphick in The Elephant Man (1980)
    John Gielgud, Anthony Hopkins, and Lesley Dunlop in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Anthony Hopkins in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Anthony Hopkins and John Hurt in The Elephant Man (1980)
    John Gielgud, Anthony Hopkins, Juba Kennerley, Helen Ryan, Ian Selby, Guy Standeven, and George Holdcroft in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Anthony Hopkins, Dexter Fletcher, and Freddie Jones in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Wendy Hiller in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Anne Bancroft in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Anthony Hopkins in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Freddie Jones in The Elephant Man (1980)
    Anthony Hopkins in The Elephant Man (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Anthony Hopkins
    Anthony Hopkins
    • Dr. Frederick Trevesas Dr. Frederick Treves
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • John Merrickas John Merrick
    Anne Bancroft
    Anne Bancroft
    • Mrs. Kendalas Mrs. Kendal
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Carr Gommas Carr Gomm
    Wendy Hiller
    Wendy Hiller
    • Mothersheadas Mothershead
    Freddie Jones
    Freddie Jones
    • Bytesas Bytes
    Michael Elphick
    Michael Elphick
    • Night Porteras Night Porter
    Hannah Gordon
    Hannah Gordon
    • Mrs. Trevesas Mrs. Treves
    Helen Ryan
    Helen Ryan
    • Princess Alexas Princess Alex
    John Standing
    John Standing
    • Foxas Fox
    Dexter Fletcher
    Dexter Fletcher
    • Bytes' Boyas Bytes' Boy
    Lesley Dunlop
    Lesley Dunlop
    • Noraas Nora
    Phoebe Nicholls
    Phoebe Nicholls
    • Merrick's Motheras Merrick's Mother
    Pat Gorman
    Pat Gorman
    • Fairground Bobbyas Fairground Bobby
    Claire Davenport
    • Fat Ladyas Fat Lady
    Orla Pederson
    Orla Pederson
    • Skeleton Manas Skeleton Man
    Patsy Smart
    Patsy Smart
    • Distraught Womanas Distraught Woman
    Frederick Treves
    Frederick Treves
    • Aldermanas Alderman
    • Director
      • David Lynch
    • Writers
      • Christopher De Vore(screenplay)
      • Eric Bergren(screenplay)
      • David Lynch(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was executive produced by Mel Brooks, who was responsible for hiring writer and director David Lynch, and obtaining permission to film in black-and-white. He deliberately left his name off of the credits, as he knew that people would get the wrong idea about the movie if they saw his name on the movie, given his fame as a satirist.
    • Goofs
      In the film, Joseph Merrick befriends Dr. Treves before he is kidnapped and taken to Belgium. In real life, Merrick never met Dr. Frederick Treves until he was rescued by police from a train station in London as was shown in the film.
    • Quotes

      John Merrick: I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I am a man!

    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Hopscotch/It's My Turn/Loving Couples/The Elephant Man/Motel Hell (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      Adagio for Strings, Op. 11
      Composed by Samuel Barber
      Performed by London Symphony Orchestra
      Conducted by André Previn

    User reviews464

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Almost Too Heart-Wrenching To Watch
    Man, this is a powerful and great movie. We are all moved different degrees by different things, but to witness sincerely nice people being treated cruelly always bothers me big- time....so this film is tough to watch in spots. Some scenes are just painful and depressing to view.

    Whatever your sensitivity, the movie is very involving and hauntingly shown with eerie black-and-white photography. Eerie, and downright beautiful camera-work in here, so kudos to cinematographer Freddie Francis, one of the best in the business.

    A young Anthony Hopkins is very likable and John Hurt is, well, someone you won't soon forget as John Merrick, "The Elephant Man."

    This is an uplifting movie at times, too, not just a tear-jerker or horrific in showing man's cruelty to man. Be prepared for an emotional experience and an amazing story.
    helpful•157
    16
    • ccthemovieman-1
    • Nov 1, 2005

    FAQ1

    • Did everything happen to Merrick just like in the film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 10, 1980 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Der Elefantenmensch
    • Filming locations
      • Butler's Wharf, Shad Thames, Southwark, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Brooksfilms
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,010,864
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,023,860
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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