Coming Soon – The Elephant Man
Article Series by Ray Schillaci
David Lynch’s second film, The Elephant Man, on Blu has eluded cinephiles here in the states for years. In its first go-around as a DVD release by Paramount in 1980, the movie was presented in a widescreen version enhanced for 16:9 TVs with an English 5.1 Surround Sound. It was a decent copy, far better than the VHS so many had. But, it was not without its faults, and you would be hard pressed to find that DVD in today’s market.
Lynch’s second film proved him as a master of sight and sound. The black and white visuals were eerily breathtaking along with the original sound mix and John Morris’ haunting score. Morris, by the way, was Mel Brooks’ long time collaborator, and the well known funny man who gave us The Producers, Blazing Saddles and Young Frankenstein was just one of the people responsible for getting The Elephant Man and its director to the screen.
Producer Jonathan Sanger had been working for Brooksfilms when he received the script from his babysitter who was a friend of the writers. Sanger took it to Brooks who loved the script and Brooks’ personal assistant Stuart Cornfeld suggested David Lynch to direct. Cornfeld would later go on to help produce a number of high profile films: The Fly, Mimic, Tropic Thunder and Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny to name a few.
Brooks was not immediately sold on Lynch since he had not seen Eraserhead. Sanger and Cornfeld arranged a screening for him, and Brooks was immediately taken by the man’s artistry. But, Brooks refused to attach his name on the film because he did not want anyone to mistake it as a comedy. He ended up being an uncredited executive producer. And, it’s been said that as much as Brooks appreciated Lynch’s vision, he wanted Lynch to understand that the film had to be far more accessible than Eraserhead.
For some unknown reason this film has been available in Blu in other regions but we here in the States have never had the opportunity to see the power of Lynch’s masterwork in a pristine 1080p format until now. Leave it to the Criterion Collection to unveil a new 4K digital restoration, with uncompressed stereo soundtrack, and a far more dynamic new cover. Criterion is also providing a far more in-depth look into the film than ever before with the following supplements:
• Director David Lynch and critic Kristine McKenna reading from Room to Dream, a 2018 book they coauthored
• Archival interviews with Lynch, actor John Hurt, producers Mel Brooks and Jonathan Sanger, director of photography Freddie Francis, stills photographer Frank Connor, and makeup artist Christopher Tucker
• Audio recording from 1981 of an interview and Q&A with Lynch at the American Film Institute
• The Terrible Elephant Man Revealed, a 2001 documentary about the film
• Trailer and radio spots
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• More!
• PLUS: A booklet featuring excerpts from an interview with Lynch from the 2005 edition of filmmaker and writer Chris Rodley’s book Lynch on Lynch, and an 1886 letter to the editor of the London Times concerning Joseph Merrick, the “elephant man,” by Francis Culling Carr Gomm, chairman of the London Hospital at the time
Release date is September 29th, and frankly I can’t wait! The price tag is very reasonable if pre-ordered from Amazon at $27.99 or if you have the patience, you can wait until Barnes & Noble’s 1/2 Criterion sale where you will be able to pick it up at $19.99
Visit Ray’s blog at themonsterinmyhead.com
