Director: David Lynch
Screenplay: David Lynch, Eric Bergren, Christopher de Vore
(based on books by Frederick Treves and Ashley Montagu)
Cast: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt
Music: John Morris
Time: 124 minutes
Bottom-line: Poignant, emotional and beautifully made
Receiving
eight Academy Award nominations, David Lynch’s The Elephant Man is, by far, the director’s magnum opus, and a milestone
film in Hollywood history. Based on the true story of Englishman Joseph
Merrick, the black-and-white film stars John Hurt in the title role, along with
Anthony Hopkins, supported by Anne Bancroft, Freddie Jones and John Gielgud.
I am not an animal! I am a human
being! I am… a man!
In
the London hospital, a doctor by the name Frederick Treves (Hopkins) comes to
know about John Merrick (Hurt), a man severely deformed from birth (since his
pregnant mother was knocked down and traumatised by an elephant), who is being
used in a freak show by his “owner” Mr. Bytes (Jones). Merrick has an unusually
large skull, thick lumps of skin, a paralysed right limb and several other
defects. Treves decides to examine and try to cure Merrick, but is opposed by
several of the hospital staff, who are terrified by his appearance and think he
is incurable. Nevertheless, Treves takes care of Merrick personally, and it
starts to work wonders: we see how intelligent, artistic and friendly the man
actually is. The transformation of Merrick’s life from a “freak” to a “human
being” is what the film is about.
 |
| Hopkins as Doctor Treves |
Since
I am one of those who hate the typical Lynch surrealist horror films, The Elephant Man was a welcome change.
It still has some of his characteristic features: like the creepy, ill-ominous
score and the visually unsettling imagery. However, the rest of the film is a
work of art: the life of Merrick is so exquisitely portrayed on screen. From
his life as a freak show act, to the patient in the hospital, and his slow
transition to a civilised human, interwoven with his friendship with Treves, is
a delight for the eyes.
 |
| Hurt as Mr. Merrick |
The
cinematography is a major highlight. I like the way the viewers are introduced
to the Elephant Man: first his face is kept hooded, then we only catch a
glimpse of his disfigured body in the dark, then we see his silhouette, and
then for the first time, the face; the impact is so sudden and powerful, and
despite all the “hints” we get about his appearance, the first real look is
still a shock. The content is disturbing, not because of some grotesque imagery,
but to see the poor man being tormented by the society and various others who
use him to earn money is pitiable; the scene where he is shown as a public
spectacle from his very room is extremely depressing. The other interesting
scenes from the film are the ones where Treves introduces Mr. Merrick to the
hospital Governor, and the scene where Mr. Merrick goes to the theatre.
 |
| The real life Joseph Merrick |
John
Hurt and Anthony Hopkins have given some of their finest performances in this
film. The former really wins our empathy for his character, and the latter
plays a character who sets many a benchmark for humanitarian deeds. To see
Hopkins play a “good” doctor was a bit of a surprise, but he has pulled it off
superbly. Hurt’s face is almost entirely covered in makeup, to give him the
deformed look. An interesting piece of film history is that The Elephant Man is the film responsible
for the origin of the Academy Award for Best Makeup, after viewers argued that
the aspect wasn’t recognised enough in this film!
So,
for this remarkable achievement, The
Elephant Man has made its mark in Hollywood history. The acting,
cinematography, score, makeup and of course, Lynch’s direction make this one of
the most beautiful films I have seen.
My Rating: 5/5
Rotten Tomatoes rating:
90%
