The Elephant Man (1980)

In Victorian London, Dr. Frederick Treves with the London Hospital comes across a circus sideshow attraction run by a man named Bytes. In actuality, the creature on display is indeed a man called "The Elephant Man", 21-year-old John Merrick, who has several physical deformities, including an oversized and disfigured skull, and an oversized, disfigured right shoulder. Bytes, his "owner", only wants whatever he can get economically by presenting Merrick as a freak. Treves manages to bring Merrick under his care at the hospital, not without several of its own obstacles, including being questioned by those in authority since Merrick cannot be cured. Treves initially believes Bytes' assertion that mute Merrick is an imbecile, but ultimately learns that Merrick can speak and is a well-read and articulate man. As news of Merrick hits the London newspapers, he becomes a celebrated curiosity among London's upper class, including famed actress Mrs. Kendal. Merrick is being treated much more humanely, but are Treves' actions a further exploitation of him? And as he becomes more famous, others try to get their two-cents'-worth from him; he remains a curiosity and a freak to most, including Bytes, who has since lost his meal ticket.

David Lynch

Christopher De Vore David Lynch Eric Bergren

Anne Bancroft Anthony Hopkins Christopher De Vore Claire Davenport David Lynch Dexter Fletcher Eric Bergren Freddie Jones Frederick Treves Hannah Gordon Helen Ryan John Gielgud John Hurt John Standing Lesley Dunlop Michael Elphick Orla Pederson Pat Gorman Patsy Smart Phoebe Nicholls Wendy Hiller