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?
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No - I'm sure you do though.
shareThe end scene by far, Adagio for Strings accompanied the end perfectly.
shareThe list would be endless, but some that stood out particularly for me was when Treves, Mrs. Mothershead and Carr Gomm presented John with the present and you can see he's so grateful. And the way he keeps calling them his "friends" as if he's in disbelieve that people could be so kind and caring towards him. That made me shed a few tears.
And the ending. It was so sad and so beautiful. The last words were somewhat comforting, about how "nothing ever dies".
It's one of the most moving films ever and there's so many scenes that move me but the last couple of times the "I am happy every hour of the day. My life is full because I know I am loved" scene gets me the most.
"Of course I'm home. I'm always home. I'm uncool." Lester Bangs, Almost Famous
Ending defintley. I've never actually felt that sad after an ending. One of the saddest and greatest movies of all time IMO.
shareFor me, a particular moment from the meeting with Mrs Treves - he sees the pictures of the children and, wanting to meet them, asks "Are they here?" - but you can see that at the very moment he asks that question he realises that of course they're not; Dr & Mrs Treves don't want to to frighten their children. In this subtle way they honestly acknowledge to John that his appearance is terrifying, and yet they are prepared to see past that surface. Such a picture of care and delicacy.
I'm never as deeply moved by the scenes with Mrs Kendal. She is open-minded and warm towards John, but very aware of how giving attention to him will reflect well on her, and draw gasps from the crowds she plays to. Mrs Treves' care of him in her drawing room, where there is no audience or journalist, is more powerful to me. The Treves do not flannel or flatter John. It is good that this young man had the experience of being flannelled and flattered by Mrs Kendall; however, the real substance of affection came from the Treves.
"I am not an ANIMAL! I AM A HUMAN BEING!"
From that point on, I was just literally bawling.
I can't really pinpoint the most powerful scene because in reality, they were all so emotionally overwhelming for me. Of course, I am a very emotive person and cry easily, but this film was the most moving film I have ever seen. What made it so much worse is that I knew it was real, I knew someone had to undergo that torture. Sure, a lot of parts were dramatized and it wasn't exactly accurate, but it was close enough. To know a human being was mistreated for a monster simply because of his appearance sickens me. I dunno, even thinking about it makes me want to sob because the ending was so... powerful and was so bittersweet. He knew he was loved, he knew he was cared for, and he knew he wouldn't survive if he slept like a 'regular' human being. It was just so awful, but so nice he was treated like a human being. This movie was, in my mind, flawless.
The entire movie is one complex, emotional and compelling story. I first saw this when it came out and was completely moved to tears as I had felt alone, abused and scared by mean people around me. I had moved countless times between the ages of 7 - 18 and on top of that my dead father's last name was Smelley. I was cruelly teased at every new school and could identify with the pain and isolation this man felt. His deformity was on the outside; mine was internal.
What still gets me - having watched the film again just recently - is how poignant the the entire life of this man was and how horrible it must have been to be him, yet his triumph of spirit and gentleness are something that I can only hope to emulate. In no way am I deformed, but internally I have felt his anguish and pain on such deep levels that I can never pinpoint just one scene as the most moving.
If I did have to choose one scene in the film that made an impression on me it is when the board is voting on his continuing to stay at the hospital and the Princess of Wales arrives with a letter from Victoria. While this may be fictionalized, it nevertheless is powerful and is a subtle dig at those who feel they must follow - whether they like it or not.
Compassion is a key component to understanding others in all situations and something I fear is sadly lacking most of the time. Humans as individuals (unless they are psychopaths) are totally capable of empathy and caring for others but the mob mentality of hate is so pervasive in today's world that it is frightening. We can all learn a lesson from this story. I agree with a previous poster about having someone who is emotionally distant watch the film and see if they are not moved. I plan to do that with the guy who is still living here with me (offshore at the moment) when he returns. If his reaction is what I suspect, no empathy, tears or compassion, it will validate my suspicion that he is a functioning psychopath (based on Dr. Hare's questionnaire and its implications). This is one person I know who doesn't seem to give a damn about anything. If this doesn't move him - nothing will.
JMC
The Force is my Ally and a powerful Ally it is. Luminous Beings are we - not this crude matter.
The end from when they are watching the play until the credits start rolling.
This was the most touching, hearbreaking, mind opening, and just perfect film ever created. When my dad asked me if I wanted to rent it from the library I read the back and said "let me guess, this movie is about a disfigured man who meets a doctor who helps him and they become friends and it has a happy ending." and he said "more happens then that." so he rented it, and I was hoping he'd forget about it. But after I watched it, I was genuinely sad.
This entire movie moved me, but mostly the ending.
without a doubt the point where john screams out "ARRRRR, i am no animal, I AM NO ANIMAL... I am a human beign" *falls*
I never cry during a movie, but this was so horrible(in a good way) i just had to shed a single tear drop for the pure wickedness of this movie! Perfect all around.
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Moved me the most, the meeting with Treves' wife. Made me cry, the scene where the people enter his room at night and destroy everything... And by that moment I was crying until the end of the movie.
M Dietrich on Orson Welles:People should cross themselves when they say his name.
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