Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Elephant Man



I was so profoundly affected by Joseph Merrick's story in the 1980 movie that I watched it over and over again. And each time, I was brought to tears. I don't know why I tortured myself that way. Joseph Merrick was an English man born in the 1800s with severe physical deformities and was often considered a side show freak. Thinking about his story again now emotionally impacts me.

Has anyone else seen this film or heard of him?

Other Es in the 1980s:

ET
Eight is Enough
Eddy Grant & Electric Avenue
Eurythmics
Erasure
Echo and the Bunnymen
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18 comments:

  1. deathwriterApril 5, 2012 at 6:22 AM

    That movie made me cry. Didn't Michael Jackson buy his skeleton? Or is that just a rumor?

    Loved the Eurythmics!

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  2. Lynn ProctorApril 5, 2012 at 7:24 AM

    when i saw the elephant man the tv movie it affected me greatly-to this day, it breaks my heart when i think about the part, when he says something like "i tried to be good"--in response to his mother giving him up--

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  3. Pat HattApril 5, 2012 at 7:37 AM

    Not sure I've seen that one. But ET and Eight is Enough I have seen plenty of.

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  4. Kittie HowardApril 5, 2012 at 7:48 AM

    Oh, but you're so right about the movie and story's emotional impact. I didn't think it would hit such a respondent cord, but there's something intangible that pulls every string, in a good way, actually. Great choice for E.

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  5. Katie O'SullivanApril 5, 2012 at 8:23 AM

    Echo and the Bunnymen was one of my favs in college! Great picks for E!

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  6. UnknownApril 5, 2012 at 8:33 AM

    I remember it too. John Hurt played him and did such a wonderful job. How he suffered. You know, this is a disease that still exists - I saw a program about a man who had a terrible disfigurement (perhaps not as bad as Merrick's) and they gave him plastic surgery. It didn't cure him, but it did help his confidence.

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  7. SaraApril 5, 2012 at 10:01 AM

    So...I've never seen any of those movies. Guess I'm missing out huh?

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  8. Theresa MilsteinApril 5, 2012 at 10:07 AM

    I do remember that movie. But I had a hard time watching it. Poor guy.

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  9. nutschellApril 5, 2012 at 11:35 AM

    Hey susan!
    I've never heard of this movie or of Merrick. It sounds like something I should check out.
    Great A-Z post!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  10. Julie FlandersApril 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM

    Oh, I had the same reaction to that movie. I haven't seen it in years now, but it broke my heart back then. Very difficult to watch.

    Loved Erasure and Echo and the Bunnymen.

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  11. Heather M. GardnerApril 5, 2012 at 1:03 PM

    I don't remember the whole movie, just parts. It was good though.
    Love Annie Lennox!
    HMG

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  12. AnonymousApril 5, 2012 at 1:30 PM

    I love People are Strange by Echo and the Bunnymen. I'm going to YouTube to listen to it now.

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  13. Stacy S. JensenApril 5, 2012 at 2:28 PM

    I may have watched the same movie. Another fun trip down 1980s memory lane.

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  14. MarieApril 5, 2012 at 2:55 PM

    Yes, I too loved The Elephant Man, but I don't think I saw it more than once. Maybe it's time to revisit.

    Annie Lennox is another great 80s icon who I got to see in concert (7 years ago). She was phenomenal!! http://marie-everydaymiracle.blogspot.com/2007/10/new-in-my-ipod.html

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  15. ShaunaKelleyWritesApril 5, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    I've always meant to watch this movie, but never done so. I'm off to netflix!

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  16. FairviewApril 5, 2012 at 4:04 PM

    Yes!! I love the line "I am not... an animal" from that movie. For some reason, that scene stays with me, even today.

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  17. Sarah TokeleyApril 5, 2012 at 6:36 PM

    Oh yes, I can't ever forget that film. It's also the only time I've ever seen my brother cry.

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  18. mooderinoApril 6, 2012 at 1:36 AM

    It's a great film, David Lynch directing and some excellent performances. Not sure I'd watch it over and over though, it's quite a sad story.

    mood
    Moody Writing
    @mooderino
    The Funnily Enough

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