THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980) B/W widescreen 125m dir: David Lynch

w/Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon, Helen Ryan, John Standing

From The Movie Guide: "THE ELEPHANT MAN features an Academy Award-nominated performance by John Hurt as John Merrick, the victim of a disease that has left him so grotesquely deformed, he's spent most of his life as a carnival-show freak. In time, Merrick comes under the care of Dr. Treves (brilliantly played by Anthony Hopkins), who installs the 'Elephant Man' in a hospital, where he studies him, helps him to overcome a seemingly insurmountable speech impediment, and --- for a time --- gives him back some human dignity. As word gets out about Merrick's existence and the press once again turns him into a freak, the film raises the question of Treves's motivation: has he helped Merrick out of decency, in the name of medical science, or to enhance his own reputation?

"A moving, faithful retelling of a bizarre true story, THE ELEPHANT MAN was nominated for eight Oscars (though it won none), including a Best Direction nod for David Lynch. The black-and-white cinematography of Freddie Francis wonderfully evokes 19th-century England and Hurt gives a tour de force performance, masterfully conveying emotions while unable to use his face or even much of his voice."

The eight Oscars THE ELEPHANT MAN was nominated for are: Best Picture, Director, Actor (Hurt), Adapted Screenplay (Christopher DeVore, Eric Bergren, Lynch), Editing (Anne V. Coates), Score (John Morris), Art Direction (Stuart Craig, Bob Cartwright, Hugh Scaife), and Costume Design (Patricia Norris).