The Elephant Man (1980)

Cast: Sir Anthony Hopkins (Dr. Fredrick Treves), John Hurt (John Merrick- the elephant man), Sir John Gielgud (Carr Gomm) Anne Bancroft (Mrs. Kendal)

Director: David Lynch

Genre: biography/ drama


This film is another one of my Sir Anthony Hopkins favorites. Based on the books by Sir Fredrick Treves and Ashley Montagu, it’s a biographical film about the life of Joseph Merrick (John Merrick as he is called in the movie), also known as the “elephant man”. John Merrick had this title because of his severe deformation known as elephantiasis or elephantitis. The elephant man (John Hurt) is rescued from a circus freak show in early 20th century England by Dr. Fredrick Treves. He is brought to Treve’s hospital for examination. He is also given the the life of a normal person away from curious, intrigued, and laughing spectators. Treves finds out that despite his severe physical abnormalities, John Merrick is an intelligent 21 year old with a true love of the arts and literature. He was taught to believe, during his freak show days, that his disfigurement was due to elephants trampling his mother during her 4th month of pregnancy. Dr. Treves explains to him what his ailment really is and welcomes him into a normal, English life. Both Dr. Treves and John Merrick’s only worry is Merrick’s former “owner” who desperately wants him back in order to gain more money by presenting him as a freak. The acting was incredible in this movie. It made the story very believable, even when higher English society welcomed Merrick. Despite the fact that this film is used as a tool to over exaggerate the importance of human dignity, it is a decent display of the lesson that all souls are made in the image and likeness of God. It also displays the lesson to overcome one’s problems and not let such things hinder perfection well. John Merrick is portrayed as a man outside of himself. He did not play the victim to gain sympathy but over looked his sufferings in order to be a true man. The use of black and white film is a good touch as it takes away from any distractions that a colored movie might cause. It allows the audience to focus on the story line much better. I don’t know if that was the writer’s intentions but I think it helped in that regard. I recommend this film highly to anyone.