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The Elephant Man Details

1980 Certificate PG Certificate PG
  • 80
  • from 12,390 members

David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master," the eloquent, soft spoken .. Read more

Starring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud
Director David Lynch
Genres Drama

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The Elephant Man

David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master," the eloquent, soft spoken Merrick is "rescued" by compassionate surgeon Dr. Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins), who allows him to live at the hospital where he works. Merrick becomes a social celebrity when he meets a popular stage performer (Anne Bancroft), but he must continue to fight for his dignity with those who still choose to view him as a freak. Meanwhile, Treves begins to question whether his supposed act of humanity has been just as exploitative as Merrick's former caretaker's.
Lynch's follow-up to his 1978 cult classic ERASERHEAD is a striking blend of art and entertainment, which earned the film eight Academy Award nominations in 1980. Freddie Francis's breathtaking black-and-white cinematography combines with John Morris's score to re-create Victorian England with a deeply haunting beauty. It is the compassionate performances of Hurt and Hopkins that lift THE ELEPHANT MAN to a more emotional level, however, bringing an inspired sadness to Lynch's striking vision.

Starring Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Hannah Gordon
Director David Lynch
Studio ELEVATION SALES
Run time DVD: 1 hr 58 mins
Blu-ray: 2 hrs 3 mins
HD DVD: 2 hrs 3 mins
LOVEFiLM Instant: 1 hr 58 mins
Certificate Certificate PG DVD
Certificate PG LOVEFiLM Instant
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Blu-ray: English
HD DVD: English
LOVEFiLM Instant: English
Dubbed Italian, Spanish
Subtitles DVD: Danish, English, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish
Released Production year: 1980

To Watch Online:
LOVEFiLM Instant: 19 May 2011

To Rent:
DVD: 14 May 2001
Blu-ray: 28 Sep 2009
HD DVD: not available
HD DVD: 26 Mar 2007
Watch now Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant. Subscribe.

  • Critic's review of The Elephant Man

    View all critics' reviews (4)

    • 3 stars out of 4  

      A curious story which happens to be true; the film sets its scene superbly, has splendid performances and a fascinating make-up. Yet it fails to move quite as it should, perhaps because the central figure is treated as a horrific come-on, like the hunchba

    • 30880

  • Most helpful member's review of The Elephant Man

    View all members' reviews (62)

    • Rated - 5.0 stars  

      • 23
      • 3

      Man or freak

      No one watching this film cannot be moved by the sheer physical pain and social misery and manipulation John Merrick - aka the elephant man, endured during his ... read more »

      Report this review

    • 301922

  • Most recent members' reviews of The Elephant Man

    View all members' reviews (62)

    • Rated - 3.0 stars  

      • 0
      • 0

      Very Good

      It was very good. Very mild way of easing yourself into David Lynch, if you need one, because he'd turned the weirdness dial way down on this film. Wasn'... read more »

      Report this review

    • 1043907
  • View all members' reviews (62)

  • News and features

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    New York

    Cooper inspired by 'Elephant Man' Merrick

    • 11 Jun 2010

    Bradley Cooper credits The Elephant Man with inspiring his acting career, insisting he related to the freak show attraction because he felt like an outcast growing up. Joseph Merrick suffered from a disfiguring disease and became famous as a sideshow curiosity in Victorian England, where he was nicknamed The Elephant Man. The Hangover star admits he felt a strange kinship with Merrick, and would often look in the mirror as a kid and imagine his face to be deformed too. Recalling David Lynch's... Read more

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Rating breakdown

12,390 Member ratings
  • 100
2,254
  • 90
1,713
  • 80
3,056
  • 70
2,130
  • 60
1,540
  • 50
764
  • 40
389
  • 30
253
  • 20
193
  • 10
98

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    • The Elephant Man - HD

    • The Elephant Man - HD
      David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master,...
    • The Elephant Man - Blu-ray

    • The Elephant Man - Blu-ray
      David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master,...
    • The Elephant Man

    • The Elephant Man
      David Lynch brings his own dreamlike style to the heartbreaking yet somehow uplifting story of John Merrick (John Hurt), a hideously deformed individual dubbed the Elephant Man during his years in a circus freak show in Victorian England. After suffering for years at the hands of his circus "master,...

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