with a crowd bear down on him and the tortured cry of the elephant man ( john hurt ) ring out represent i be not an elephant . i be not an animal . i be a human be . set in victorian england and it look into the freak show trade that be popular then and through one particular gentleman and grossly and uniquely deform and by the name of john merrick ( the elephant man ) and and be base on the memoir of the doctor play by anthony hopkins and dr frederick treves . it show the humanity of poor mr merrick and condemn the society that exploit him for it own monetary gain and sick pleasure . the story itself be a difficult one and and i be surprised that any producer and even someone as offbeat a mel brook and would have agree to pour money into this idea . it have none of the classic element of the commercial formula for make a movie that will make money represent it have no love story and it have no sex and and and without spoil too much and it be quite a tragic and unhappy story . the pervasive tragedy of the story be that john merrick be an intelligent man and trap inside this hideously misshapen body . hang over the head of the story be also the fact that nothing can be do for mr merrick . and the metaphor run throughout be that merrick be no elephant man at all and he just as human a the rest of u and but this exhibitionist and heartless society whip him and make him dance around for them like an elephant in a circus tent . luck and my friend and a circus dwarf say to the elephant man at one point in the story and and who need it but we . it be a story of immense sensitivity and humanity and and one the like of which you would not see anywhere else . it definitely not for the weak hearted or depressed . it often devastatingly difficult to watch ( mainly in one or two scene ) and most of this story be wildly compelling and human drama due to the immense talent of lynch and hopkins in particular . there be certainly moment of reprieve all be not black . it certainly a beautiful movie every frame be perfection . gorgeous black and white cinematography give this subject the class it deserve . a wonderful score by john morris help give it a haunt beauty . it be direct with superb classical storytelling and illustrate by lynchian brushstrokes represent expressionistic dream sequence and trademark lynchian soundtrack . david lynch should be very proud of this early effort . it be a marvellous film . the sensitivity of the construction and and it classic perfection and be the work of a master . but it be hard to say what this movie would be without anthony hopkins . it be a topic that easily could have fall into the trap of the society it depict and of exploit freak for the petty thrill of exhibitionism . but whatever credit for this that do not go to lynch and must go to hopkins . his sincere delivery and in one of the most genuine performance i have ever see and be a major factor in our believing this story really happen ( which it do ) and and take it seriously ( which we do ) . 5 star .