Let's go for Lynch's next film.

I intend to re-watch it in the next couple of days and pay attention to BEST MOMENTS. Must say I don't have anything particular in mind at the moment. I remember this film as a whole or as single images. Not so much the scenes.

Please write down your favourites, preferrably listed from no.1 to no.5 or the other way... :-)

This time I will be taking advantage of you giving your choices first (I hope!)

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

The Elephant Man -- Top 5

1) The scene where Bytes and his patrons dance around with Merrick and show him the mirror

2) The 23rd Psalm scene

3) Merrick is rescued by the freaks

4) "Am I a good man or am I a bad man?"

5) When Dr. Treves first sees John Merrick    

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

1) Merrick in the theatre, the musical montage and the play featuring animals. That's superb...

2) Smokey's #5: Dr. Treves first seeing Merrick

3) The classic one: "I am not an animal!!"

4) Freaks freeing John

5) The ending scene, mother in the sky, Barber's "Adagio for Strings"

1. Definitely Smokey's number one

2. "I am not an animal!"

3. The opening with the elephants (can't believe no one mentioned it yet)

4. When Anthony Hopkin's doctor meets Merrick for the first time.

5. "Am I a good man?"

I think these five scenes are great, and the performances are wonderful, but this film doesn't compare to Lynch's later work, at least not to me.

That god damn trailer's more popular than Uncle's Day in a whorehouse!

5. When John goes to Treves' house and meets his wife

4. The meeting between Mrs. Kendall and John (romeo + juliet scene)

3. Opening scene of Treves first seeing John

2. The whole scene at the theatre

1. "I am not an animal" scene

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

That god damn trailer's more popular than Uncle's Day in a whorehouse!

I watched it last night with two friends who had not seen it before.

I will say that for me there is no single scene there which would be less than "good".

Still I am not sure about my choices, they will wait a while.

PS. Smokey, but you HAVEN'T voted for the ending.
And if you want to change your list go ahead!

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

I made up my mind at last....

1. Am I A Good Man?... - it's not that the scene itself os so brilliant but it captures the very essence of the film, this question is a summary of the main problem in the film (as I see it)

2. Merrick rescued by the freaks - and this scene is amazing in both simplicity and being powerful, visually bizarre but inside deeply human; that's where Lynch owes the most to Fellini...

3. Final scene - the cathedral complete, a glimpse at the picture of person sleeping normally in bed and the decision - Merrick's last but how full of dignity.

4. Merrick being danced around, filled with alcohol, shown the mirror - that's rather traumatic to watch but still, very moving.

5. Dr Treves sees Merrick for the first time - I just think it's all perfect exposition of the character, the fact that they don't show John at once but rather choose to show people's reactions. And that for the first time he is revealed, it's when a complete stranger sees him. I find this to be very good filming indeed.

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

If anyone else wants to give their choices, please do - but meanwhile I will post the results so far.
I counted Rebel's vote as doubling Smokey's.

It's a pity so few of us how taken part, the results do not differ too much. Thank those who joined anyway...

The scene which got mentioned the most was Treves sees Merrick for the first time - but this one never was listed #1 and so got only 12 points.

1. ..dancing around Merrick, showing him the mirror etc. - 17 pts.

2. Treeves sees Merrick first time
Merrick rescued by freaks
I'm not an animal - all 12 pts.

3. Am Ia Good Man? - 10 pts.

That's the top five according to us.

Next comes the theatre and Psalm and ending, and others...

Bobi 1 Kenobi

B. Beware
O. Of
B. BOB 

when one of the nurses or care workers freaks out, & also the night porter that tip/tap of his shoes, he was a mean ole man wantiing to show off john merrick.

looking through the mask of the elephantman. the more I look at it, the more it has that bit of eraserhead feel to it.

i will have to think about my favorite scenes. but i just had watched the movie yesterday for the 1st time and i was deeply moved.

i found it to be incredibly poignant.

 it was handled with such sensitivity. i also loved the darkness of it and the beautiful music, most especially, the 'adagio for strings' toward the end.

 i wonder how mr merrick had felt having been exploited by a man who was such a lowlife, not to mention one whose intelligence was far inferior to his own. i also detested that cruel janitor who further exploited john. it's pretty scary to me to imagine any society where genetic anomolies were used in freak shows and, further, that this was not against the [law at the time].

one suave folk- your imagined deleted scenes as well as a sequal were amusing. i laughed in spite of myself.

it's pileated, isn't it?