The Elephant Man (1980)

Regisseur:

David Lynch

Drehbuchautoren:

Sir Frederick Treves (book)
Ashley Montagu (book)

Premierendatum:

10. Oktober 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biographie | Drama | Historienfilm

Werbezeile:

I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man!

Plot:

A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. Behind his monstrous facade, there is revealed a person of intelligence and sensitivity.

Plot Keywords:

Dying Young | Channel Crossing | Poignant | Animal In Title | Romeo And Juliet

Filmpreise:

Nominated for 8 Oscars. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations

Nutzerkommentare:

Nothing Will Die.

Besetzung

Anthony Hopkins	...	Dr. Frederick Treves
John Hurt	...	John Merrick
Anne Bancroft	...	Mrs. Kendal
John Gielgud	...	Carr Gomm
Wendy Hiller	...	Mothershead
Freddie Jones	...	Bytes
Michael Elphick	...	Night Porter
Hannah Gordon	...	Mrs. Anne Treves
Helen Ryan	...	Princess Alex
John Standing	...	Dr. Fox
Dexter Fletcher	...	Bytes's Boy
Lesley Dunlop	...	Nora
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Merrick's Mother
Pat Gorman	...	Fairground Bobby
Claire Davenport	...	Fat Lady

Alternativ:

Elefantenmensch, Der (Österreich) (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) [de]

Länge:

124 Min

Produktionsland:

UK | USA

Sprache:

Englisch

Farbe:

Schwarzweiss

Seitenverhältnis:

2.35 : 1

Tonverfahren:

Dolby

Altersfreigabe:

Portugal:M/12 | Italy:VM14 | Spain:T | Iceland:LH | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:12 | Norway:16 (original rating) | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:AA (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Drehorte:

Broadgate, London, England, UK

Firma:

Brooksfilms

Dies und das:

This film was executive produced by 'Mel Brooks (I)' , who was responsible for hiring director David Lynch and obtaining permission to film in black and white. He deliberately left his name off the credits, as he knew that people would get the wrong idea about the movie if they saw his name on the film, given his fame as a satirist.

Pannen:

Abfolgefehler: In nearly every scene, John Hurt's make-up changes in some way.

Dialogzitate:

[first lines]
Skeleton Man: Get rid of them! I don't want to see them!
Fat Lady: Darling, don't be difficult! Let's take our sweet lovely children on an outing.

Bezüge zu anderen Titeln:

Verweis/Anspielung/Erwähnung in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Killer Shrews (#5.7)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Adagio for strings

Nothing Will Die.

This movie changed my life forever. To see someone so beautiful, dignified, and unique, hidden behind a body and face that society considers ugly, made me realize how the body is a decaying pile of dust, but the soul is a breath-taking and uniquely formed indestructible diamond.

I believe that everyone should get a chance to see this film, for those of an open mind, and a caring soul, there is nothing else like it.

It also shows the detestable ways some people treat others. I felt at first pity for John Merrick, but then my feelings changed to admiration, as the film went on. John, in the film starts as a severely deformed mute figure being badly mistreated, as the story progresses, he becomes the hero. A bold and courageous man, standing against the evils of modern society.

Joseph (John) Merrick, was a man so one-of-a-kind, that someone else like him physically or emotionally will never appear again. His life should be taken as an example to everyone.

As in the film, John's mother says "Nothing will Die", Joseph Merrick will live on in the hearts and souls of everyone who has witnessed the story of his life.

My love goes to Joseph Merrick, where ever he may be.