For me it would have to be the part where he meets the actress and they are reciting an excerpt from Romeo and Juliet- when she says, "Oh, you're not an Elephant Man at all, Mr. Merrick... you're a Romeo." And then John Merrick shed a tear. At this part I bawled.
Any one who got through watching the elephant man without being moved, is not someone I'd want to know!
What about you?
yeah, i agree, it was the the mrs.kendal/merrick scene that was one of the most touching. But the last part of the film when Merrick took off the pillows on his bed to sleep like 'normal people', that really got the waterworks going.
However, Mrs. Kendal said "You're not an elephant man at all, Mr. Merrick...you're Romeo."
^____^
Many, many, many scenes in this movie move me. One very subtle scene that always stays in my mind is when Treves asks: "Am I a good man? Or am I a bad man?" It's such a simple question. It's such a simple line. But to be at a point in life when you're questioning the goodness of YOURSELF... it's devastating. Whole movies have been made in an attempt to explore this idea, but the script/director/Anthony Hopkins nails the heart of it in just a line.
shareshe doesn't say "you're a poet", but "you're Romeo", I believe.
shareThe bit where they gave him the beauty case and he's so overwhelmed he says over and over.
'Oh my friends! My Friends.'
Yeah that bit always gets me too.
But I've now seen this movie so many times that I always get choked up as early as the scene when Treves is exhibiting him as part of a lecture. Just trying to imagine how humiliating it would have been for Merrick and how ironic it is that all of those 'learned' men didn't really give a damn about him makes me upset.
Which is partly why this is one of my favourite Anthony Hopkins movies because he's playing such an exceptional character who does actually bother to do something about it.
Anyone else?
I was very moved when the carnival folk let him out of the cages and helped him escape. For some reason, it seemed that some of the only people who appreciated his situation were a little different themselves. A sad reality. Gosh, I think this entire movie was just a huge emotional roller coaster. A wonderful and beautiful film no doubt, but at the end my eyes were so irritated I could barely see between blinking tears and trying to hold them back. The beginning of the film, when Anthony Hopkins's character sheds a tear for the tragic life that had befallen the elephant man moved me beyond words. It's hard to pick a highlight of this film, because I found no dark spots; only highlights. But if I had to choose one, it would be when John says, "My life is full because I know that I am loved".
shareI found it a toss-up between when John recites the 23rd Psalm to Dr. Treeves astonishment. The second one was towards the end at the opera scene.
On the other hand, there were some scenes that disturbed me. The first was when one member of the hospital staff let in the people to see him and they treated him like a carnival attraction. It was reprehensible ... but for good reason. The other was the misunderstanding at the train depot and the crowd chased him down.
I was only 13 when I saw this. It was probably the first serious movie I saw that really made an impact on me. Discovering it was based on a true story disturbed me more. I felt sad for the way people treated Merrick. I was moved by the charity and acceptance given by Treeves.
I saw this on TCM about a month or so ago. Looking at it with adult eyes, I admire the cinematic art put into it. I found the ending a little silly, but overall, it was still one of the best of 1980. The thing that truly amazed me was that the upper class of Victorian England were the ones accepting of Merrick while the lower class loathed him, made sport of him, and made him feel less than human.
Just reading this thread is getting me abit chocked. It's such a wonderful film. so many scenes moved me, I always remember when he said "so kind..so kind" and of course the subway scene.
shareJust watched it for the first time. Absolutely magnificent film. But one scene that moved me not with sadness but with fury was when Treves pushes that bastard drunk who was taking people to see Merrick up against the wall and throws him into the table then exclaims "You are the freak! You are the monster!"
Also the train station scene, and when Merrick meets Treves' wife.
Very emotional film...10/10
the scene that got me was after he finished watching the play and the actress said it was all in his honor and then everyone applauded. I almost cried.
shareThis has to be the most heart wrenching movie i have ever seen.
The scened that moved me the most was when Merrick met the doctor's wife ,when Merrick talks about his mother, when he starts reciting that poem in the bible,
and the ending scene.Actually there is not one scene that does not make my heart ache..
Sob sob..><
When he says "freinds" in a trembling way. A subtle thing that really got to me
shareThere are so many great scenes in this movie but my favorite is the train station, "I am not an animal!" I can't believe Ordinary People beat out this and Raging Bull for best picture.
The Ultimate Game Room: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9251607953
There are so many powerful scenes in this film, really, many of them which have already been mentioned. Have to agree the fact that this lost the award for best picture to Ordinary People is a disgrace.
One thing that had me in tears that nobody's touched on exactly is how just before the night porter brings all the drunken animals to gawk at John, he's dressed himself in his finest clothes and is brushing his hair with a brush from the dressing case he was given as a gift- seeming genuinely happy. It just makes the scene that follows that much more awful to watch. It's pretty apparent throughout the film but here it's especially clear that the real animals are more often than not 'normal people'.
I've never cried watching a film before, and spent half the time crying when I watched The Elephant Man -- so much made me sob my eyes out, I can't really pick out one scene. I was really embarrased coz I was watching it with my wife who's usually holding on to me when we watch horror films (which don't effect me at all).
share"I am not an ANIMAL! I AM A HUMAN BEING!" Those words still echo in my mind after seeing this movie. Totally moving!
share