The Elephant Man (film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Elephant Man |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | David Lynch |
| Produced by | Jonathan Sanger |
| Screenplay by |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | John Morris |
| Cinematography | Freddie Francis |
| Editing by | Anne V. Coates |
| Studio | Brooksfilms |
| Distributed by |
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| Release date(s) | October 3, 1980 (New York City) October 10, 1980 (United States) |
| Running time | 123 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5 million |
| Money made | $26 million (North America) |
The Elephant Man is a 1980 biographical drama film. It tells the true story of Joseph Merrick (called "John" in the movie). Joseph was a man with severe physical differences who lived in London in the late 1800s.
The film was directed by David Lynch. It stars John Hurt as John Merrick and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Frederick Treves. Other famous actors like Anne Bancroft and John Gielgud are also in the movie.
The story was written based on books by Frederick Treves and Ashley Montagu. The movie was filmed in black-and-white. It is known for its amazing make-up work by Christopher Tucker.
The Elephant Man was very successful. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. People were so impressed by the make-up effects that the Academy created a new award for Best Makeup the next year! The film also won several BAFTA Awards and a French César Award.
Story of the Film
The movie starts with a dream-like scene. It shows how John Merrick's mother might have been scared by elephants. This is a symbolic way to show the cause of his condition.
John Merrick's Discovery
Frederick Treves, a kind surgeon from the Royal London Hospital, finds John Merrick. John is being shown as a "freak show" attraction in London's East End. He is kept by a cruel man named Mr. Bytes. John's head is always covered. Mr. Bytes thinks John is not smart.
Dr. Treves pays Mr. Bytes to bring John to the hospital for an examination. Treves shows John to his colleagues. He explains that John's head is so deformed that he must sleep sitting up. If he lies down, he cannot breathe.
A New Home at the Hospital
After John returns to Mr. Bytes, he is badly beaten. Dr. Treves brings him back to the hospital for good. At first, the nurses are scared of John. But Mrs. Mothershead, the head nurse, takes good care of him.
The hospital's leader, Mr. Carr Gomm, does not want John to stay. He says the hospital is not for people with incurable conditions. To prove John can improve, Dr. Treves teaches him to speak a few sentences. He also teaches him part of the 23rd Psalm.
Mr. Carr Gomm is not convinced at first. But then, John starts to recite the entire Psalm by himself. He tells the doctors he can read and that the 23rd Psalm is his favorite. Mr. Carr Gomm then agrees to let John stay.
Life at the Hospital
John spends his time practicing talking with Dr. Treves. He also builds a model of a cathedral he can see from his window. He has tea with Dr. Treves and his wife. He is so touched by their kindness that he shows them a picture of his mother.
John feels he might have been a "disappointment" to his mother. But he hopes she would be proud to see him with his "lovely friends." John starts to meet guests in his room. One guest is the famous actress Madge Kendal. She gives him a copy of Romeo and Juliet. They read lines together, and she even kisses his hand.
Challenges and Kindness
John quickly becomes a popular person among high society. But Mrs. Mothershead worries that he is still being put on display. Dr. Treves also starts to wonder if he is doing the right thing.
Meanwhile, a night porter named Jim secretly sells tickets. He lets people come at night to stare at John. The hospital council discusses whether John can stay. But Queen Victoria herself sends word that he should have a permanent home there.
However, during one of Jim's secret showings, John is kidnapped by Mr. Bytes. A witness tells Dr. Treves. Jim is then fired by Mrs. Mothershead.
Freedom and Peace
Mr. Bytes takes John on the road again as a circus attraction. During a show in Belgium, John collapses. He is weak and dying. A drunken Mr. Bytes locks him in a cage with apes. But John is freed by his fellow circus performers.
John returns to London. At Liverpool Street station, he is chased by boys and an angry crowd. They pull off his hood. John cries out, "I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I... am... a... man!" before collapsing.
Policemen return John to the hospital and Dr. Treves. John recovers some strength, but he is dying from a lung disease. Dr. Treves and Mrs. Mothershead take John to see a magical pantomime show. Afterward, Madge Kendal dedicates the performance to him. John receives a standing ovation from the audience.
Back at the hospital, John thanks Dr. Treves for everything. He finishes his cathedral model. Saying "It is finished," he lies down on his back in bed. This is something he could never do before without suffocating. He dies peacefully, seeing a vision of his mother. She quotes a poem about how nothing truly dies.
Main Cast
- Anthony Hopkins as Frederick Treves, a kind doctor who helps John.
- John Hurt as John Merrick, an intelligent and kind man with a severe physical difference.
- Anne Bancroft as Madge Kendal, a famous actress who becomes John's friend.
- John Gielgud as Francis Carr Gomm, the hospital's leader.
- Wendy Hiller as Mrs. Mothershead, the caring head nurse.
- Freddie Jones as Mr. Bytes, the cruel ringmaster.
- Michael Elphick as Jim, the dishonest night porter.
- Helen Ryan as Alexandra, Princess of Wales, a royal who supports John.
Making the Film
How the Film Was Made
Producer Jonathan Sanger found the script for The Elephant Man. He was working for Mel Brooks, a famous director. Mel Brooks decided to help fund the movie through his company, Brooksfilms.
Brooks' assistant suggested David Lynch to direct. Lynch had made a unique film called Eraserhead. Mel Brooks watched it and loved it. He agreed for Lynch to direct The Elephant Man. Brooks chose not to be named as a producer. He wanted to make sure people didn't expect a comedy, since he was famous for comedies.
Choosing the Actors
Many actors wanted the role of John Merrick. But David Lynch chose John Hurt. Hurt was working on another film at the time, but he took on the role of Merrick in between.
Filming Challenges
The movie cost $5 million to make. Most of the money came from NBC and EMI Films.
David Lynch also helped with the sound design. The make-up for John Merrick was very detailed. It was based on actual casts of Joseph Merrick's body. The make-up took seven to eight hours to put on each day! It also took two hours to carefully remove.
John Hurt had to arrive on set very early, at 5 AM. He would then film his scenes for many hours. After his first day in the make-up, he called his girlfriend and said, "I think they have finally managed to make me hate acting." Because it was so hard, he worked only every other day.
The film starts and ends with dream-like scenes about Merrick's mother. The music for the film was composed by John Morris.
Film Release and Awards
Box Office Success
The Elephant Man was a big success at the box office. It earned $26 million in the United States. It was also very popular in Japan.
Awards and Recognition
The Elephant Man was nominated for eight Academy Awards. These included Best Picture, Best Actor (for John Hurt), and Best Director. However, it did not win any of these.
People in the film industry were upset that the movie's amazing make-up effects were not honored. They sent a letter to the Academy. Because of this, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to create a new award. The next year, the Academy Award for Best Makeup category was introduced.
The film won the BAFTA Award for Best Film. It also won BAFTA Awards for Best Actor (John Hurt) and Best Production Design.
Watching at Home
The Elephant Man has been released many times on different home video formats. These include VHS, DVD, and Blu-ray. In 2020, for the film's 40th anniversary, a new 4K version was released. This version was approved by David Lynch himself.
Soundtrack
The music for The Elephant Man was created by John Morris. The National Philharmonic Orchestra performed it. The soundtrack was first released in 1980 on LP and cassette.
In 1994, the music was released on compact disc (CD). The album cover shows John Merrick with his mask, as seen on the film's poster.
Songs on the first U.S. LP release:
Side one
- "The Elephant Man Theme" – 3:46
- "Dr. Treves Visits the Freak Show and Elephant Man" – 4:08
- "John Merrick and Psalm" – 1:17
- "John Merrick and Mrs. Kendal" – 2:03
- "The Nightmare" – 4:39
Side two
- "Mrs. Kendal's Theater and Poetry Reading" – 1:58
- "The Belgian Circus Episode" – 3:00
- "Train Station" – 1:35
- "Pantomime" – 2:20
- "Adagio for Strings" – 5:52
- "Recapitulation" – 5:35
See also
- The Elephant Man (play)
- The Elephant Man (1982 film)
