A black and white modern era triumph

Rating: 8/10 (2 May 2020)

1980 saw a couple of films released in a black and white format.
The Elephant Man was one. The black and white adds to the ambience of the Victorian London the film is set in.
Anthony Hopkins (with hair) plays a surgeon at a London hospital who befriends and at the same time discovers John Merrick (John Hurt) nicknamed "Elephant Man" because of his grotesque physical appearance due to tumours.
Make-up effects transform Hurt into Merrick. It must have taken many hours for his make-up to be applied to achieve the desired effect.
Hurt is unrecognizable and follows his famous role in Alien only one year previously.
Director duties fall to David Lynch who earned an Oscar nomination and in the process increased his film making profile.
Look out for a small role from the late Michael Elphick, who U.K. watchers may recognize from television roles such as Boon.
Hurt and Hopkins are excellent in their roles and elevate the film to greatness.