All the human spirit needs to thrive…is a chance. In one of his most legendary films, director David Lynch chronicles the intense emotional journey of a complex, lonely man and the dedicated surgeon who changed his life. John Merrick (John Hurt) was born with a horribly disfiguring con genital disease, and suffered the humiliation of being a sideshow freak. Only when London doctor Frederick T reves (Anthony Hopkins, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, RED DRAGON) rescues him does Merrick begin to regain the life of dignity and respect t hat everyone deserves. Based on a true story, the critically acclaimed, Oscar®-nominated film has earned its place in cinematic hist ory. Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud and Wendy Hiller lend mo ving performances to an already powerful story. Visually fascinating and hi storically relevant, Lynch has created a haunting masterpiece of com passion, beauty and ultimately, humanity.
This is a tale of redemption and transcendence, of the hunchback of London Hospital, of the noble phantom who wanted to go to the opera, of Beauty and the Beast. – Time
Starring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller.
Note: The film is beautiful produced in black and white. Though just about everyone else did (critics and audience alike) Roger Ebert did not like this film, saying “I kept asking myself what the film was really trying to say about the human condition as reflected by John Merrick, and I kept drawing blanks. The film’s philosophy is this shallow: (1)Wow, the Elephant Man sure looked hideous, and (2)gosh, isn’t it wonderful how he kept on in spite of everything?”