John Merrick is forced into becoming a circus sideshow freak and spurned by Victorian society due to the disfigurements he was born with. Rescued by well-meaning surgeon Frederick Treves, he escapes a life of prejudice and cruelty. With news of Merrick quickly spreading, he becomes a celebrated curiosity amongst London’s upper class, but despite being treated more humanely, has he just become subject to a different form of exploitation?
Grand and moving, the film was beautifully shot in black and white by Freddie Francis, who was also the cinematographer of The Straight Story (part of this double bill, tickets sold separately). The Elephant Man won three BAFTA awards and received eight Oscar nominations and was, rather surprisingly, co-produced by Mel Brooks and proved to be Lynch’s first major critical and commercial success.
With an illustrated introduction by George Orton from the Thackray Museum of Medicine who will talk about some of the objects from their collection directly and indirectly linked to the real story of John Merrick.
Event information
Running times: 2hrs 3mins (not including introduction)
Certificate: 12A
