this be a beautiful film . touching and elegant and move and with a strong moral message and a message which do not beat you over the head but instead gently push at your sensibility . this should be a film that everyone should be force to watch and especially the most shallow and judgmental demographic and young woman . they have make me feel like an elphant man myself on many occasion and which be why i have a special empathy with the main character . one of the best aspect of the film be the setting . it be absolutely perfect in recreate late 1800 london and a fantastic attention to detail . shoot in b and w greatly enhance this . the acting be also superb and especially from hopkins and hurt . i think this be hopkin best performance and most memorable and much good than hannibal lector and which he have unfortunately become typecast a . it much well to see him a this kind and sympathetic character than lector . also fantastic character be mother head and carr gomm . i absolutely love the dialog in this film and especially everything carr gomm say . he have a gentlemanly charm that we would not ever see again in the world and even in merry old england and and that be so unfortunate . of course the evil character and byte and the guard and be also memorable . there be really only one thing i do not think be necessary in this movie . the strange montage of elephant and smoke and star just do not seem to belong in what be otherwise such a perfectly set and direct and act film . it a very minor criticism though . the end be sad yet sober . the story and though embellish somewhat from the truth and still carry an important message of simple humanity and dignity .