David Lynch's The Elephant Man: Special Edition DVD!!
The idea to do a film based on the life story of John Merrick, (known as The Elephant Man), started with comedian/director Mel Brooks, who wanted to do a serious biopic of Merrick's life. But, he knew he couldn't do it, as audiences might not take him seriously. He wanted to see a film version made, so he decided to produce it for someone else to direct. Directors originally considered included Terrence Malick and Ken Russell. Then, one day, Brooks saw Eraserhead (1977), a very creepy and very weird horror film from a young director called David Lynch. Brooks knew he'd found his man to direct it, Brooks would later dub Lynch as "Jimmy Stewart from Mars". Lynch signed up to direct it, and what he would create would what alot of critics call his grea-*test*-('") film, it's a world away from his debut film, but they do share some similiar visual imagery. The Elephant Man firmly put David Lynch on the map as a true visionary director, now it's getting a Special Edition DVD!! :D The film is set in the late 19th century, and it concerns the story of John Merrick (played by John Hurt, maybe his best performance), who was born normally, but soon developed a physical facial deformity caused by a congenital defect. He becomes a sideshow freak for the cruel Bytes (Freddie Jones). However, he is discovered by London surgeon Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins), who takes Merrick away from the brutality and exploitation of the circus side-show. Hopkins knows he cannot cure Merrick, but he wishes to make him fit in with society, and after much coaching, Merrick turns out to be eloquent and intellectual, and fits into society, to much mixed opinion. The film is quite unfairly refered to as "a David Lynch film for those who don't like David Lynch films", the film was perfect material for Lynch, a man who was still finding his feet in the world of cinema, and it was a chance to show that he was no "one-off" after the debut of Eraserhead. He creates a brilliant visual mood, and recreates Victorian London almost perfectly. He gives it a nostalgically industrial feel, not a million miles from the look Eraserhead had. Shot in Black and White by the great Freddie Francis, (who sadly died in March), it adds to the mood of the film, and makes it stand out all the more. Cinematographer Francis would later work with Lynch again on Dune (1984) and The Straight Story (1999). Lynch made some brilliant choices cast-wise, John Hurt was placed under latex applications, (taken from original casts of Merrick held by the Royal London Hospital. Lynch had a go at designing the make-up himself, but it didn't work.) Hurt is mesmerising as Merrick, you come to accept him for who he is, he's not a freak at all, he may look different, but he's still a human being wanting acceptance, you feel pity for him, but at the same time, you come to accept him. Hopkins is equally perfect as Dr. Treves, who took Merrick under his wing, and helped him become socially acceptable rather than a social outcast. The film is filled with good actors, as well as Mel Brooks' wife Anne Bancroft appearing as Victorian stage actress Fanny Kemble and Sir John Gielgud as Carr Gomm, Treves' boss. The film is filled with little cameos from recognisable British talent, including Dexter Fletcher, Hannah Gordon, Michael Elphick, Keith Barron, Kenny Baker and Phoebe Nicholls. Now, after a few years on a nearly-barebones it's finally getting a good Special Edition, even if there's not that many features on it. It's supposedly a good package. The features include: The Real Elephant Man featurette on life for Merrick in Victorian England Trailer New & Exclusive John Hurt interview New & Exclusive David Lynch interview
Trailer here...
It's available from August 4th, and I recommend you get it. The Elephant Man is a haunting, beautiful but ultimately heartbreaking tale of a man trying to fit in to society. It's a pity Lynch doesn't try films like this more often, Lynch is well know for weird and disturbing films like Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990) and Mulholland Drive (2001), but he did return to the emotional level of this, when he did the surprisingly gentle film, The Straight Story (1999), it's a pity he doesn't do more films that tug at the heartstrings, because he does have a talent for it, it's curious to wonder what his career would have been like if he'd kept on making films like that?? But, he's had a good career so far, and for anyone wanting to become acquainted with Lynch's work. Start with this one first, for the really brave, go for Eraserhead... :P
The idea to do a film based on the life story of John Merrick, (known as The Elephant Man), started with comedian/director Mel Brooks, who wanted to do a serious biopic of Merrick's life. But, he knew he couldn't do it, as audiences might not take him seriously. He wanted to see a film version made, so he decided to produce it for someone else to direct. Directors originally considered included Terrence Malick and Ken Russell. Then, one day, Brooks saw Eraserhead (1977), a very creepy and very weird horror film from a young director called David Lynch. Brooks knew he'd found his man to direct it, Brooks would later dub Lynch as "Jimmy Stewart from Mars". Lynch signed up to direct it, and what he would create would what alot of critics call his grea-*test*-('") film, it's a world away from his debut film, but they do share some similiar visual imagery. The Elephant Man firmly put David Lynch on the map as a true visionary director, now it's getting a Special Edition DVD!! :D The film is set in the late 19th century, and it concerns the story of John Merrick (played by John Hurt, maybe his best performance), who was born normally, but soon developed a physical facial deformity caused by a congenital defect. He becomes a sideshow freak for the cruel Bytes (Freddie Jones). However, he is discovered by London surgeon Frederick Treves (Anthony Hopkins), who takes Merrick away from the brutality and exploitation of the circus side-show. Hopkins knows he cannot cure Merrick, but he wishes to make him fit in with society, and after much coaching, Merrick turns out to be eloquent and intellectual, and fits into society, to much mixed opinion. The film is quite unfairly refered to as "a David Lynch film for those who don't like David Lynch films", the film was perfect material for Lynch, a man who was still finding his feet in the world of cinema, and it was a chance to show that he was no "one-off" after the debut of Eraserhead. He creates a brilliant visual mood, and recreates Victorian London almost perfectly. He gives it a nostalgically industrial feel, not a million miles from the look Eraserhead had. Shot in Black and White by the great Freddie Francis, (who sadly died in March), it adds to the mood of the film, and makes it stand out all the more. Cinematographer Francis would later work with Lynch again on Dune (1984) and The Straight Story (1999). Lynch made some brilliant choices cast-wise, John Hurt was placed under latex applications, (taken from original casts of Merrick held by the Royal London Hospital. Lynch had a go at designing the make-up himself, but it didn't work.) Hurt is mesmerising as Merrick, you come to accept him for who he is, he's not a freak at all, he may look different, but he's still a human being wanting acceptance, you feel pity for him, but at the same time, you come to accept him. Hopkins is equally perfect as Dr. Treves, who took Merrick under his wing, and helped him become socially acceptable rather than a social outcast. The film is filled with good actors, as well as Mel Brooks' wife Anne Bancroft appearing as Victorian stage actress Fanny Kemble and Sir John Gielgud as Carr Gomm, Treves' boss. The film is filled with little cameos from recognisable British talent, including Dexter Fletcher, Hannah Gordon, Michael Elphick, Keith Barron, Kenny Baker and Phoebe Nicholls. Now, after a few years on a nearly-barebones it's finally getting a good Special Edition, even if there's not that many features on it. It's supposedly a good package. The features include: The Real Elephant Man featurette on life for Merrick in Victorian England Trailer New & Exclusive John Hurt interview New & Exclusive David Lynch interview
Trailer here...
It's available from August 4th, and I recommend you get it. The Elephant Man is a haunting, beautiful but ultimately heartbreaking tale of a man trying to fit in to society. It's a pity Lynch doesn't try films like this more often, Lynch is well know for weird and disturbing films like Blue Velvet (1986), Wild at Heart (1990) and Mulholland Drive (2001), but he did return to the emotional level of this, when he did the surprisingly gentle film, The Straight Story (1999), it's a pity he doesn't do more films that tug at the heartstrings, because he does have a talent for it, it's curious to wonder what his career would have been like if he'd kept on making films like that?? But, he's had a good career so far, and for anyone wanting to become acquainted with Lynch's work. Start with this one first, for the really brave, go for Eraserhead... :P