THE ELEPHANT MAN

When you think of writer/ director David Lynch the first two films that come to mind are BLUE VELVET and MULHOLLAND DRIVE. His bizarre and inventive style of storytelling is admired and despised simultaneously. THE ELEPHANT MAN is a forgotten cinematic gem, an independent film released on October 10^th, 1980 which showcases Lynch's versatility as a director. The film went on to receive a number of awards including 8 Oscar nominations.

THE ELEPHANT MAN is directed by David Lynch, produced by Jonathan Sanger and stars Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Frederick Treves, Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Kendal, John Gielgud as Carr Gomm and John Hurt as John Merrick "the elephant man." The screenplay is written by Christopher DeVore, Eric Bergen and David Lynch based on the book by Sir Frederick Treves and the book by Ashley Montagu. The director of photography is Freddie Francis and the makeup designer is Christopher Tucker.

Narrative Structure

The film falls under the biography/ drama genre. The hook is the discovery and subsequent rescue of a grotesquely disfigured man by a surgeon. Many assume that there is no intelligence behind the hideous façade but they are proven wrong.

This film follows the three-act structure similar to Classical Hollywood Cinema.

The first act begins with the introduction of the character of Dr. Frederick Treves visiting a local freak show. He is intrigued by a freak show attraction called "The Elephant Man." Although Dr. Treves is unable to view the attraction on that day, he returns the next day and pays the owner (Bytes) for a private viewing. The doctor convinces the owner to allow him to examine John Merrick (the elephant man).  Within the first fifteen minutes the audience is introduced to Merrick, the central figure of the film who has to undergo internal changes caused by the altering external circumstances.

The oppressive owner Bytes, also known as the villain is the main opposition to Merrick and Dr. Treves is the second most important character in the story who acts as Merrick's proponent in his personal journey.

After receiving a severe beating by Bytes, Merrick is brought into the hospital for medical care by Dr. Treves. This is the catalyst for the main conflict as well as the character exploration. Further supporting characters are introduced such as Nurse Mothershead and the Night Porter who represent the secondary proponent and opponent respectively. Bytes comes to the hospital to retrieve his property, but Dr. Treves and his superior Carr Gomm foil his attempt. Bytes' actions are a foreshadowing of the conflict that is yet to happen. The learning of Merrick's ability to speak is augmented by the chance discovery that Merrick is also able to read and comprehend the English language. This is the end of the first act, where all the essential characters have been introduced and the primary and secondary conflicts are established.

The second act begins with the introduction of Mrs. Kendal who happens to be the third most important character in the story. She is a stage actress and is fascinated by the individual Merrick. The purpose of her character is primarily to introduce the element of love into the story. Although love is not meant in its romantic or intimate sense, the love that is portrayed by Kendal will play a significant part in the final act. Merrick is settled into a more spacious room at the hospital and is somewhat hurried into the dynamics of high Victorian society by Treves. The audience is presented with further information to the inner nature of Merrick through a number of social visits. Merrick experiences the judgmental qualities of the civilized as well as uncivilized members of English society.

Mrs. Kendal pays a visit to Merrick and brings with her two gifts, a photograph of herself and the play 'Romeo and Juliet' in book form. This visit is significant towards the resolution of the film. Merrick begins work on a miniature cardboard cathedral in his free time. Merrick reveals to Treves that he is unable to sleep lying down like normal people because the weight of his enlarged skull would break his neck.

The keen interest by Queen Victoria for Merrick results in the Governing Committee of the London hospital granting Merrick a permanent residence at the hospital. But this joy is short lived due to the Night Porter invading Merrick's room and forcefully pouring alcohol down his throat and ultimately resulting in the kidnapping of Merrick by his former carnival master Bytes. The Night Porter his confronted by Treves and is appropriately terminated from his duties at the hospital. This brings an end to the second act which complicates the conflict further and gets rid of one of the secondary characters.

The third and final act begins in another traveling freak show but in a different country. Merrick is being increasingly ill treated by Bytes, so the rest of the freak show folk decide to help him escape. Merrick journeys by boat and train and eventually arrives in England. At the train station he is cornered by a curious and ignorant mob who forces him to verbally express his feelings for the first time in public.

Merrick shouts out 'I am not an animal! I am a human being! I...am...a man!'

He is found by the police and returned to the hospital.

This is the climax of the film and signifies the tremendous character growth of Merrick from a frightened animal to a self-assured man. The resolution of the film begins at the theatre hall where Merrick experiences his first stage play.

Later in the evening Merrick bids goodnight to his friend Treves and reflects on his life for a moment. Merrick removes all the pillows from his bed and lies down completely flat on his back. This action undoubtedly breaks his neck, ending the film.

Iconography

The main character of the film is John Merrick 'The Elephant Man.'

He is a complex and lonely twenty one year old suffering from a rare genetic deformity. He has been physically and mentally abused throughout most of his life until he meets Dr. Treves. Merrick represents the protagonist of the story.

Dr. Frederick Treves is the benevolent surgeon who rescues Merrick. He is a prime example of a noble and selfless upper class member of Victorian society. Treves represents the deuteragonist of the story.

 Bytes is the self professed owner of Merrick. He is a tyrannical capitalist only interested in making money off Merrick's deformity. Bytes represents the antagonist of the film.

Mrs. Kendal is a popular stage actress and the first female to show a genuine interest and affection for Merrick. She is the tritagonist of the film.

The setting is 19^th century England, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Both the affluent and impoverished locales of London are featured in the film. Dark dingy back alleys and taverns of the working class are mixed with the rich splendor and privileged circumstances of the upper class.

Objects that have significant iconic representation in the film are Merrick's hood with the cut-out single eye hole. The hood symbolizes a safe haven for Merrick from the hoards of gawking spectators.

The cardboard cathedral Merrick constructs by the end of the film is symbolic of his artistic and industrious efforts. It represents a new beginning and hope that anything is possible. And finally the gift that Merrick receives from Dr. Treves, the vanity case is symbolic of Merrick's acceptance into society. It is a symbol of what a normal human does on a daily basis. Grooming himself will give him a sense of self and pride.

Editing

The technique of editing used holds true to continuity editing. The story continues at a steady progression from one scene to the next. Basic cuts are used between the transitions from scene to scene, with the inclusion of a few cross dissolve effects in the dream-like sequences such the opening scene with the real elephants.

Composition

The framing includes a combination of long shots such as the scenes in the freak show at the start of the film, medium shots such as the scene when Treves is trying to communicate with Merrick for first time, close-up shots similar to the scene where Treves reacts upon seeing the elephant man for the first time and extreme close-up shots like when the camera zooms in on the elephant man's hood. Although many of the scenes are shot at eye-level, there are a few shots where the camera placement was changed for dramatic effect. A high angle is used after Merrick's first visit to the hospital, when he gets into a horse drawn cab to represent the vulnerability of the man. And a low angle placement is used in the scene where Bytes is beating Merrick, which depicts the power and authority the owner has over his animal.

The lighting or the lack thereof is an example of dramatic film noir lighting. Shadows and patches of light create the mood and the setting for all the interior and exterior locations. The dimming of the kerosene lamps at the hospital is captured realistically through the lighting.

The volume balance or imbalance is not evident; it is consistent throughout the entire film.

Nowadays many films are shot in color film stock and transferred to black and white during post production. This film is unique due to the fact that it was totally photographed using actual black and white film stock.

Kinesthetics

The story progresses at a steady tempo and pace. There isn't a single duration where the action is lagging and monotonous. All the scenes in the film are necessary for the story's development and no scene is inserted to merely drag out time.

Sound

The use of vivid ambient sounds is prevalent in this film. The sound of the gushing wind when Merrick is brought into the attic-type isolation room at the hospital, the deafening sounds of the clock tower bells located above Merrick's attic room, the sounds of London such as the bellowing smoke from chimney tops, and the background characters. The score is exceptionally poignant especially during the moments of substance in the film such as the scene where Merrick displays to Treves and Carr Gomm that he is capable of intelligent thought and the final scene before Merrick gets into bed for the last time.

Implied Narrator

The point of view of the film is through the eyes of John Merrick. The film is solely about the trials and tribulations of this character, from his beginning in the depths of a merciless freak show to the upper echelons of high society.

Implied Spectator

The film is aimed at the lay person/ everyday people as a means to highlight the rampant inhumanity of so-called civilized society. The film focuses on a relevant topic, even today people are discriminated against due to race, skin color, religion, physical and mental inabilities etc.  The film mirrors the values of the typical imperfect human being. They are all villains, only in varying degrees. The character of Bytes can be placed in one end of the spectrum as the most evil; a notch below him is the Night Porter who displays a bit of affection mixed with wicked greed, next to him is the character of Dr. Treves who consciously tries to help Merrick but unconsciously becomes a hindrance to him and finally Mrs. Kendal, who is placed at the other end of the spectrum, she epitomizes the good and true nature of humanity. 

Rating: 5/5

S. V. Fernando