The size of his head increased to 3 feet (almost 1 metre) in circumference, with spongy skin hanging from the back of his head and across his face; deformation of the jaws rendered him incapable of showing facial expression or speaking clearly. A Victorian surgeon rescues a heavily disfigured man who is mistreated while scraping a living as a side-show freak. TV.” Cable television played the president’s performance on a virtual loop on Thursday, and those five words trended online. Sign up for a FANALERT® to find out when tickets are available in your area. Directed by (1) Writing credits (5) Cast (89) Produced by (3) Music by (1) Cinematography by (1) Film Editing by (1) Casting By (1) Production Design by (1) Art Direction by (1) Set Decoration by (1) Costume Design by (1) Makeup Department (8) John (or Joseph, in real life) Merrick is the main character in the play The Elephant Man. While on exhibition, he was discovered by a London physician, Frederick Treves, and admitted to London Hospital (1886). Dr. Frederick Treves is a doctor at the London Hospital. Joseph Merrick, in full Joseph Carey Merrick, also called the Elephant Man, (born August 5, 1862, Leicester, Leicestershire, Englandâdied April 11, 1890, London), disfigured man who, after a brief career as a professional âfreak,â became a patient of London Hospital from 1886 until his death. He pays the shopkeeper, Simon Silcock, extra money to see the deformed man of once. He remained at London Hospital until, at age 27, he died in his sleep of accidental suffocation. Earlier in the film, John spoke of the shame he would feel if his mother were to look upon him. SEE DETAILS. For a fee, Norman would tell crowds a myth of how, at his birth, Merrick’s mother was stamped on by an elephant, resulting in a half-man, half- elephant creature. Earn 125 points on every ticket you buy. His legs were deformed in the same manner as his arm, and a defective hip caused such lameness that Merrick could walk only with the aid of a stick. What to Watch on FandangoNOW: ‘PG: Psycho Goreman,’ ‘Come Play,’ Sundance Classics and More Read More; This Week in Movie News: Misha Greene to Direct ‘Tomb Raider 2,’ Robert Rodriguez to Reboot ‘Spy Kids’ and More Read More Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. In 1979, a play by Bernard Pomerance called The Elephant Man debuted on Broadway. Rack up 500 points and you'll score a $5 reward for more movies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Elephant Man is a 1980 British-American historical drama film about Joseph Merrick (whom the script calls John Merrick), a severely deformed man in late 19th-century London. The play closed in 1981 after eight previews and 916 regular performances. Hot stories. Hurt was diagnosed with and was treated for pancreatic cancer but lost his battle with the illness in 2017. A horribly deformed young man, who has been a freak attraction in traveling side shows, is found abandoned and helpless and is admitted … when you buy 1 participating Hersheyâs party bag. Based on a true story, the film examines the complex emotional experiences faced by John Merrick. It later played in repertory at the National Theatre in London. Dr. Although his left arm was normal, his right arm ended in a wrist that was 12 inches (30 cm) in circumference and a finlike hand. You tell your child that this is why his body is deforming before his own eyes, why he doesn’t look like the othe… He wants to meet the creature. The Elephant Man Cast List on Broadway.com, the most comprehensive source for Broadway Shows, Broadway Tickets and Broadway Information. A play about Merrick, The Elephant Man, by Bernard Pomerance, appeared in 1979; an unrelated motion picture based on Merrickâs life, directed by David Lynch and with John Hurt playing Merrick, was released in 1980. He played The Elephant Man. Get news, photos & more. The disorder from which Merrick suffered was long thought to be an extremely severe case of neurofibromatosis, but his deformities were probably the result of an extremely rare disease known as Proteus syndrome. So he pays 12 pence to see Joseph Merrick, a very ugly man with a huge head. We know life happens, so if something comes up, you can return or exchange your tickets up until the posted showtime. The film of The Elephant Man is not based on the successful stage play of the same name, but they both draw their sources from the life of John Merrick, the original "elephant man," whose rare disease imprisoned him in a cruelly misformed body. "The Elephant Man" (Hurt), when he is discovered by a dedicated surgeon (Anthony Hopkins). Our editors will review what youâve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. A letter that was published in an (unsuccessful) effort to find Merrick a hospital for chronic medical cases drew the attention of London society, which earned him a measure of fame and led to Merrick receiving visits from a number of prominent individuals, including Alexandra, princess of Wales. Merrick was apparently normal until about the age of five, when he began showing signs of a strange disorder that caused abnormal growths of much of his skin and bone. The production's Broadway debut in 1979 at the Booth Theatre was produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent, and directed by Jack Hofsiss. John Hurt, the wiry English actor who played a drug addict in “Midnight Express,” Kane in “ Alien,” the title character in “ The Elephant Man,” and Winston Smith in “1984” has died. Synopsis. Hurt's first film was The Wild and the Willing (1962), but his first major role was as Richard Rich in A Man for All Seasons (1966).