7. The Elephant Man (1980)
"I am not an elephant! I am not an animal! I am a human being! I.. am... a.... man!" A true story based on the life of John Merrick, a man who had severe facial deformities in 19th century London. Frederick Treves, a surgeon, sees Merrick in a freak show where he is cruelly treated by the thuggish Bytes. Treves pays Bytes in order to display Merrick in one of his teaching seminars. Upon giving Merrick back to Bytes, he is appalled at the latter's cruelty to Merrick and resolves to help him any way he can. Housed in the hospital, his appearance is so hideous Merrick is placed in isolation under the care of Matron Mothershead. The director of the hospital, Carr-Gomm tells Treves the hospital is not a place for incurables but they are surprised when Merrick recites the 23rd Psalm to perfection. Merrick is intelligent and articulate. He is given his own suite of rooms where he passes the days reading, writing and making a model of the hospital. Treves takes him home to meet his wife Ann and is such a hit he is asked to a lot of society dinners. Matron Mothershead complains to Treves that Merrick is being exploited again, only this time in a high class fashion. This observation troubles Treves, even though an unscrupulous porter is letting people in at night to gawk at Merrick for money. Through royalty, it is decreed that Merrick will live out his days at the hospital. However Bytes kidnaps him and brings him to Europe as a freak show and Merrick is treated with the same old abuse and contempt. Merrick manages to escape and returns to the hospital. However he is very sick with pulmonary disease and dies a short time after. The Elephant Man is beautifully filmed in black and white which lends a very personal air to the proceedings. Merrick is not a man to be pitied. He is to be admired and exalted as a man dealing with a severe medical condition which, no matter how many shoddy treatments he is put through, he emerges with considerable dignity and self preservation. The film is obviously very sad (or else it would not be on this list) and I have to say, I shed a tear whilst watching it. It is not like David Lynch to induce heart rending emotion into his films, but this is one movie that will sadden your soul and make you yearn for greater tolerance towards the most vulnerable members of society.