PG certificateThe Elephant Man is a Film programme that first aired in 1980 and has been classified a PG certificate.

The Elephant Man is a 4 star programme

Image for the Film programme "The Elephant Man"

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The Elephant Man (1980)

Directed by
David Lynch

David Lynch's powerful and poignant film The Elephant Man brought the true and hitherto obscure story of the shockingly disfigured John Merrick to a worldwide audience. Released in 1980, its central performances - from John Hurt as Merrick (aka the Elephant Man) and Anthony Hopkins as Frederick Treves (the surgeon who rescues him from a fairground freak show) - are high-class acts indeed. Hurt, almost unrecognisable beneath the heavy make-up, is quite superb, while Hopkins's performance is relatively restrained, and all the better for it.

If that wasn't enough, the quality support cast - including Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller and Freddie Jones - lock in tightly, providing excellent underpinning. And look out for a super little cameo from Michael Elphick as the night porter.

Sympathetically shot in black and white by Freddie Francis, the film stoically delivers Merrick's story, faithfully recreating the horrors of Victorian England and exposing the social prejudices of that time. Nominated for eight Oscars, it's probably Lynch's most conventional movie. Highly recommended.

Written by ,

Genre: Film

Running Time: 100 minutes (approx)

Production Year: 1980

Rating:
4/5 Stars

Classification: PG Certificate

Filmed in Black and White

Cast

Image for Anthony HopkinsAnthony Hopkins...Dr. Frederick 'Freddie' Treves
Image for John HurtJohn Hurt...John Merrick 'The Elephant Man'
Image for Anne BancroftAnne Bancroft...Mrs. Kendal
Image for John GielgudJohn Gielgud...Carr Gomm
Image for Wendy HillerWendy Hiller...Mothershead
Image for Freddie JonesFreddie Jones...Bytes
Image for Michael ElphickMichael Elphick...Night Porter
Hannah Gordon...Mrs. Anne Treves
Helen Ryan...Princess Alex
John Standing...Dr. Fox
Image for Dexter FletcherDexter Fletcher...Bytes's Boy
Lesley Dunlop...Nora
Phoebe Nicholls...Merrick's Mother
Pat Gorman...Fairground Bobby
Claire Davenport...Fat Lady