The Movie: The Elephant Man (1980)
What Is It?: David
Lynch goes from an avant garde debut to a mainstream sophomore picture, and
just as Eraserhead delivered its share of entertainment, The Elephant Man has
its share of strangeness. However, it is the great performances from John Hurt
as the afflicted John Merrick, Freddie Jones as his cruel “owner,” Anthony
Hopkins as the conflicted doctor who rescues Merrick, and Wendy Hiller as the
tough-love nurse who tends to him that make this picture so powerful and
affecting.
Why Today?: On
this day in 1862, Joseph Merrick (John’s
real name) dies.
