The most moving film I have ever seen

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2003)

****Warning, Spoilers******
The Elephant Man is one of my all time favourite films - a true story of human dignity and friendship, set against a background of the bigotry, brutality and hypocrisy of Victorian society. This is the only film which has ever made me cry - I defy anyone to watch the scene where John Merrick recites the 23rd Psalm and not shed a tear.
David Lynch shot the film in black and white, which gives the whole thing a very gothic, nightmarish feel. It's not going too far to say there's a palpable sense of evil in some of the scenes. Set against this is a truly wonderful cast (including a very young Dexter Fletcher and R2-D2's Kenny Baker!). John Gielgud and Anne Bancroft are as good as you would expect them to be, but the film undoubtedly turns on absolutely magnificent performances from Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Frederick Treves and John Hurt (unrecognisable in his Elephant Man make up) as John Merrick.
Both actors give performances that will leave you never doubting the inherent decency and goodness of the human spirit ever again. John Hurt plays a man who has every reason to hate the world he was born into, but instead displays amazing reserves of dignity, courage and kindness. Anthony Hopkin's Frerderik Treves gives hope to us all as his relationship with Merrick changes from one of pity and medical analysis to a genuine friendship. The dilemma at the centre of Hopkin's character serves to highlight the hypocrisy of the society he lives in - he may have rescued John Merrik from being a circus freak, but has that only succeeded in turning him into another exhibit, albeit one to be viewed by Treves' medical colleagues and upper class voyeurs?
I cannot praise this film enough - as Barber's Adagio for Strings plays at the end you will never have felt so moved or uplifted. Do yourself a favour and see it at once.
Rating - 10/10