Time: 123 Minutes
Age Rating: PG – Violence
Cast:
John Hurt as John Merrick
Anthony Hopkins as Frederick Treves
Hannah Gordon as Ann Treves
Anne Bancroft as Madge Kendal
John Gielgud as Francis Carr Gomm
Wendy Hiller as Mrs. Mothershead
Freddie Jones as Mr. Bytes
Director: David Lynch

The Elephant Man was one of the earlier movies I watched from David Lynch (following Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart) and it was another great film from him.  

Considering David Lynch’s reputation, The Elephant Man is a fairly conventional and straightforward movie, and it is adapting a real life story. Considering the subject matter and the fact that it’s based on a true story, it easily could’ve been mishandled. However, the story is handled with care and empathy, and was genuinely emotionally powerful and tender. It really is about how society treats people that it doesn’t deem to be ‘normal’.

The movie has incredible performances from John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins. Hurt is particularly fantastic; he is recognizable and transformative with the amazing makeup but also heartbreaking and emotionally moving, conveying so much humanity.

David Lynch directed this amazingly. The black and white cinematography is beautiful and makes great use of lighting and shadows. And of course, the makeup on John Hurt is outstanding.

The Elephant Man is a deeply empathetic and heartbreaking film, excellently directed and with incredible performances from John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins.