The Elephant Man Movie Review 1980

A biography of John Merrick, a severely deformed man who, with the help of a sympathetic doctor, moved from freak shows into posh London society. Lynch's first mainstream film, shot in black and white, it presents a startlingly vivid picture of the hypocrisies evident in the social mores of the Victorian era. Moving performance from Hurt in title role.

Distribution

Paramount Home Video, 5555 Melrose Ave., 5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: (323)956-5000, URL: http://www.paramount.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 125 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Biopics: Science/Medical, Physical Problems, True Stories, Period Piece: 19th Century, Doctors & Nurses, Ethics & Morals, London, 4 Bones

Screenplay

Eric Bergren, Christopher DeVore, David Lynch

Cast

Michael Elphick, Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones, Kenny Baker

Cinematography

Freddie Francis

Director

David Lynch

Music

John Morris, Samuel Barber

Producer

Paramount Pictures, Jonathan Sanger

Awards

British Acad. 1980: Actor (Hurt), Film; Cesar 1982: Foreign Film.