Based closely on a true story, with strong Pygmalion themes: a severely deformed man is rescued from life as a sideshow freak and becomes the toast of London society, only to wonder whether this is just a new kind of freak show -- and what his place in this world is after all. Particularly effective performances by John Hurt (in the title role) and Anthony Hopkins (as Dr. Treves, the real-life physician who wrote a book on this experience, which formed the basis for the film).

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