David Bowie - Scenes from The Elephant Man, 1980-1981
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- čas přidán 8. 09. 2024
- David Bowie performs in the play The Elephant Man. These scenes broadcast on Australian TV program "Rage" on 15 January 2016 as part of a tribute to David Bowie. RIP.
Performances †
• 29 July - 3 August 1980 Denver Centre of Performing Arts.
• 5 August 1980 - 31 August 1980 Blackstone Theatre, Chicago.
• 23 September 1980 - 3 January 1981 The Booth Theatre, 222 W. 45th St, New York
† www.davidbowie.com
"Sometimes I think my head is so big cause it's so full of dreams" this line gets me every time 😢 his acting was just phenomenal
There was no end to his talent...
That is the truest sentence I have ever read about David, he was a sublime actor, singer, performer.
He was so in tune to everything around him, unusual for a Capricorn and he was a Bon Vivant
There never will be another like him.
@@suzannemoogan9675 David Bowie was, like you said, incredibly talented, but that has nothing to do with astrology the month you were born on has no bearings to your personality
There was obviously no start to his acting talent.
I was fortunate enough to see Elephant Man during Bowie's New York run. It was a very intimate little theatre, the sets and lighting were very minimal... and as will come as no surprise...he was simply brilliant. A heartbreaking, nuanced and extremely intelligent performance. Almost impossible to describe it in the depth deserved except to say that after fifteen minutes... you entirely forgot that it was David Bowie twenty feet in front of you.
I don't know if I could ever forget but I'm so jealous, can you physically share that memory? LOL j/k
Me, too. I say it opening night.
Not big Broadway fan but saw this play and it was great. Bowie was excellent.
Wow that's awesome!
Exactly, I saw it live on Broadway too.
Heartbreaking and beautiful... wouldn´t you just take him in your arms, hold, his hand and tell him everything will be alright? David Bowie is such a transcending actor, perfect, he just...is.
Apparently, the crew thought he was a much better actor than the others who played this character...
What's even sadder is that with all the complete assholes on this planet, the good ones, the ones the human race truly needs, are always taken way first.
He was never pretending to be the character... He was the character.
+Daniel Cruz That can be said for all of his life.
I would be there for him as long as he would be there for me.
You can tell when someones a good actor (mainly celebrities) when you forget who they actually are during there performance. I watched this in the middle of watching a documentary about bowie so watching this and then going back to the documentary was very strange as he is a completely different person in this then he is in real life and when producing music. Such a talented man. Legends always die young.
I think that anyone would have said that no matter what age!❤❤
Superb acting, no makeup or costume and David portrays John Merrick wonderfully. An extremely talented man. R. I. P
I hope the whole performance comes out on DVD one day
When you getting, up on CZcams for make more people happy
haha
Supposedly, one does not exist.😞
Oh, how I wish to see this play....
@@ripaulac Not true. I saw it on cable TV. One of the Premium channels.
I need the full version of this in my life! He is such an amazing actor I am in tears!
Snakenumber9 Rip David Bowie
I also want this full performance on DVD with behind the scenes footage.
He's such a fantastic actor. So many musicians attempt to become actors and either fail completely or succeed only on the basis of their pre-existing fame. Bowie was an incredible exception. An incredible, sincere, talented actor. Even in these few minutes he disappears so completely into the part. I can tell if this ever gets released in full I will be a sloppy mess of tears.
💔
One forgets that it is David Bowie after a short time. He so thoroughly became the character.
One of the most memorable pieces of theater I’ve ever seen… Before the show went to Broadway it actually previewed in Denver Colorado. I can’t remember what year. But I saw it and it was amazing. There was a particularly nice sequence in which a professor was explaining the elephant man to his students… it started with the prof pointing at original photographic slides of the actual grotesque original Elephant Man. the professor described all of his afflictions. Bowie was standing on the stage looking normal at first… but as the lecture proceeded, Bowie slowly contorted his body into the position he would use for the rest of the play. So you looked at the photos of the actual elephant man, you saw Bowie transform himself into the contorted theater version of that Elephant Man… and you never saw the original photographs again, but your mind carried and mapped all of those characteristics from the photographs onto the contorted Bowie. It was masterful theater!
David was fantastic in this, I was fortunate enough to see this play - my older brother got me the tickets for my birthday - maybe 8th row center - knowing i was such a Bowie fan, seeing Diamond dogs and the Young Americans tour, I followed him faithfully - I saw every NY show he did, following his career with a passion - He was a Beautiful person - and is missed immensely - we all share the loss - Thank you for publishing this clip
lucky you.
My Aunt Ethelyn (diagnosed w/schizophrenia) absconded with myself, and my two younger siblings... from Rhode Island, to New York, to see Bowie perform this show. It was my first professional theatre experience. I was 15, and had already been a Bowie fan. I had NO idea how rare an experience this would be. My grandparents (with whom we were staying for the holidays) berated Ethelyn for a day - we had had to stay in a hotel before returning; and Ethelyn didn't see-fit to leave a note... nor to call. My parents were similarly traumatised.
I had the chance to share the story with him, at a concert in Hollywood (at The Palladium). He was gracious and warm; and greatly-amused - as was Iman. Like: Wowsville, Man. What a long, strange trip it's been... so far...
This holds a special place in my heart because David invited me to see this show and invited me backstage to meet him....He was amazing in this role...but then again he was amazing in everything he did
@Freddie Hankins LMFAO it seems that you are full of bullshit! But thanks for the chuckles...
I discovered this incredible play because of David Bowie; I've never been more moved by anything else I've ever read, and no one else can play the role like he did ;____;
I absolutely agree with you! 10 minutes of pure magic ♡♡♡
if there was one area in which Bowie was underrated, it was his acting, watching him age while sitting in the waiting room, in "The Hunger" was pretty awesome.
emma duncan I agree :) I felt bad for his character though in the hunger for getting stood up omg the poor thing haha idk if you'd also seen the series of The Hunger but david plays the character Julian Priest and it's the best thing ever. I can't really get into it but it's available, if you want to see it. It's one of my faves. You'll see how amazing and (kinda) attractive that character is.
I wish I had seen this.
Me too! If I had a time machine, I'd take it to go see this - and try to pick Mark Chapman out of the audience while I was at it >_>
David Bowie .. He is so strong, he is vulnerable; he is almost everything one can hope to be: has there ever been a more complete human being ?!
tell me sth he couldn't do.... i'm speechless how can one single person be so talented omg
Majestic. Here you see what he got from joining Lindsay Kemp's mime and dance company. Such a realistic rendition of physical disability without fake emphasis nor stage excess. This was maybe ten years before Dustin Hoffman's "Rain Man"....Thank you so much for posting it.
He would have made a great Smike in Nicholas Nickleby. 😢
Bowie did a performance the same day John Lennon was shot, well actually the next day as Lennon was shot at night. He said he was devastated yet somehow got through the performance. Reminds me of Elton John being able to get through "Candle in the wind" during the Lady Di memorial
He's so charming, such a talented artist, in both acting and his music. Not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.
Dear Lord...seeing Bowie do this performance makes me want to cry. I miss him so very much. He was so beautiful and so talented. But playing Mr. Merrick makes it even more heartbreaking. I would like to see the entire performance.
Gorgeous man. And what an actor!
David is perfection in this. So touching a performance...
Such a Renaissance man!
Oh, this made me cry. How beautiful and sensitive a portrayal.
The way he talks is so cute!
This is incredible ! Mr. Bowie is the most talented man ever - just brilliant !👏🏻💙
41 years after seeing this performance twice - the very first performance, and the official opening night, then with Patricia Elliott, who is not featured in these scenes, it still is amazing. One of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Oh How much I miss him.
The way that David was able to make his body look like that... you get a sense of what he looked like... it's very strange, but a good strange...
❤Love you Bowie!❤
Very moving performance. I have so much respect for David Bowie, as an actor and musician.
Leaves me speechless and tearfull
Tears! This is incredible.
How I wish that this was in entirety.
Something kind of hit me today, if you'll pardon the pun:
The "Friday Night, Saturday Morning" program that can also be seen on CZcams, where David does an interview with Tim Rice; that shows some of these scenes shot at different angles. So, really? NO ONE thought to film the whole play? Not even a dress rehearsal?
Balderdash! Someone must have. I mean, it was *_David Bowie_*.
He may not have been "Let's Dance" popular in 1980, but if he had enough marquee value for legit Broadway, someone in that world must have thought about putting it on video or on PBS someday, just like what was done with _Sweeney Todd_ when Hearn and Lansbury starred. Perhaps one day we'll get lucky, and the cameraman's kid finds a stash of the film, just like the man who shot "The Jean Genie" for TOTP and forgot about the tape for 38 years. We can only hope.
I like your thinking! I notice that there are two cameras and someone has put this together as a package, so there will be a number of people involved that could bring the whole play to us in the future. Maybe a January 8th surprise? Fingers crossed!
Most likely the whole play was filmed. Bowie was gold since "Space Oddity". It probably has not been shown due to contracts but, now that he has died, there is money to be made.
this was a BOOTHE THEATRE production.... I know cause I remember it well.... my papa was a stagehand at the BOOTHE THEATRE NYC... n I was a baby..(age 4 or 5)..., Mr Bowie refused makeup to leave it to the audience imagination n bless his soul it worked....
ill never forget this show...
miss u papa joe
@@sysplex The ABC Australia SHOULD have the whole play in their archives somewhere! I remember when it was boradcast in '81!
My gosh, you're right! That one has not only different angles, but features an entirely different performance! So they definitely shot this twice, with different camera setups and direction... and IMO the "Friday Night, Saturday Morning" has better camera direction (as well as superior sound, but that's probably not an issue with the original original tapes) although it's shorter... but, I've yet to see any evidence that anything beyond these 10-odd minutes was filmed.
I didnt know that Bowie was such a great actor. I would love to see the entire play.. what an extraordinary performance.
Amazing David Bowie ❣👍😰🌹♥️
Excellent acting by Mr. Bowie
IVE NEVER SEEN DAVID BOWIE ON BROADWAY, BUT FROM THESE SCENES I CAN TELL HE WAS EXCEPTIONAL. I DONT THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING HE COULDNT DO. I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE
I was there. Brilliant Bowie.
I got to see this play and needless to say DAVID was AMAZING in it...then the best thing was he invited me to see the play and I got to meet him after the play was over backstage....What a really super nice and funny guy...Yes I miss him ...
Bowie is and will always be a Genius. As the musician he was (Ziggy Stardust, Starman, Bowie). The man who fall to earth, Les Prédateurs, Furyo...). He became a Legend. And legends never die ! Bowie forever & ever !❤
I'll add 3 things to the Bowie LoveFest here.
1) Merry Christmas, Mister Lawrence. Brilliant performance, hard, heartbreaking movie. Deserved multiple Oscars, or at least nominations.
2) Until his death, my then-20 yr. old daughter was dedicated to building a time machine to go back and marry him at an age-appropriate year. After he died, she came to the conclusion that it will be easier to clone a personal copy for herself.
3) Watching Labyrinth, she noticed Bowie's rather large, um, Codpiece area in his trousers. Or, as she calls it "The day Puberty hit" LOL
I simply MUST find a copy of this for her. PLEASE HELP
This reminds me of when my kid sister realized Elvis was dead because she insisted she was going to marry the king
Absolutely Brilliant Performance By David.
I've watched these two scenes so many times I can almost quote them word for word 😅
Thank you so much for posting this! I was fortunate enough to have played Merrick in 1985 -- and I'd read glowing things about Bowie's performance, but never saw a minute of it till this afternoon. This is a gift.
Brilliant. I'm crying.
Holy shit he can act
He can do every artistic thing in this world
NO! Really?
Thank you so very much for sharing these minutes of brilliance ❤️;but could someone out there PLEASE release the entire performance ?🙏
I love Bowie so much. He was definitely “inspired “ by Bette Davis in his performance. Awesome 👏
I wish this would come out on dvd it be great to see the full play
Thank You So Much for Posting This sysplex. (i wish it was on DVD).
*THIS IS MY HOME*
Impressive actor!
I saw this performance. The way Bowie distorted his body to try to portray the life of the poor man was amazing. I studied John.
Thank you for this wonderful upload! BOWIE FOREVER!
RIP Bowie and John Hurt. Hope they're having fun among the stars together.
😭😭😭😭😭😭 One of the best performances I've ever seen. David was and still is and icon. RIP David Bowie
I didnt know Bowie played Merrick. Now i do.
Good to know, ain't it.. gives us still another reason to adore & adulate Bowie a little
camelshit Yes it is good to know. You know and have listened to far more than I. I havnt listened to half the amount of Bowie that i shouldve,couldve and in that way i have years left of listening to his works for the first time. He always astounds me the first time i see him performing. He always will be a class act
In a way I envy you; you have yet much to look (listen) forward to, to discover! I know I too have some of his more obscure works to experience for the very first time.
camelshit ..and the joys of youtube and Bowie fans make pretty much everything accessible ;) Pretty hunky dory if you ask me
Hello Darkem. I hope you are alright over there.
Believing the strangest things, loving the elephant...
RIP David Bowie
Thank you for posting this. . . It's been over 35 years since I had the privilege of viewing Bowie's portrayal of John Merrick, and this video clip brings this wonderful memory back.
Most beautiful and talented... David Bowie..💖
Such a beautiful performance I would love to see the whole play
Whoever you are your work is greatly appreciated.
The theatre district in New York consists of Broadway, Off-Broadway & Off-Off-Broadway. I think The Booth Theatre, the venue for The Elephant Man was classed as Off-Broadway, correct me if I'm wrong.
I arrived, from England, at the theatre box office, expecting all tickets to be sold out. I was pleasantly surprised this wasn't the case. I bought as many tickets as I could, five to be precise, due to time constraints. I saw him twice in one day, for one performance I sat in the front row.
I stayed in, I think, Hotel President near Times Square. Meeting up with US Bowie fans I'd met at Bowie Con 1 1980 Floor Show, Holiday Inn Chicago April 27th 1980. Some names I remember Mike from New Orlean, Linda Hess from Washington DC, Karla from New York.
The set was minimalist, with a cellist perched stage right. When it got to the sad bits in came the cello solo.
It was very easy to suspend disbelief, even though I probably knew the lines verbatim. Pathos, comedy, etc. made for a spellbinding performance.
We partied in the hotel & presented David with flowers after the show.
It coincided with John Lennon's Assassination, so we all went to the Vigil in Central Park. Also to legendary Bowery venues Max's Kansas City & CGBG's. Pete Townsend attended one performance. I had a brief conversation with him where I mentioned The Who Live At Leeds, my home town.
Famous Hollywood actress Kim Novak, who appeared in Just A Gigolo, attended another performance. I got to speak to her, autograph etc.
I didn't meet David this time, but couldn't have been far away from him as I bumped into his bodyguard, Tony Masia.
I told him I'd seen him on the telly in a Michael Cain film. He said he'd got into acting after playing Arthur, Thomas Jerome Newton's Chauffeur in The Man Who Fell Earth. Thanks, David for a lifetime of Bowie related adventures.
Dude, thy last scene was deep af
Brilliant . One minor point worth mentioning ; the stage play , like the film , got Merrick's first name wrong . It was Joseph , not John . Bowie was fantastic in the role .
I actually got to see him in New York. :) Also wish it was recorded and for sale. :(
If I didn't know this was David Bowie, I'd have to question myself. This is brilliant.
it's so great!!! I hope the whole play will come on DVD soon !!!!
I have no words...
i was hoping to see a bit of this posted.it's bowie embodying yet another character with the expertise of the artist that he is.
GENIOS 🎭
Absolutely brilliant! Just like everything he did!🌗⚡❤️
reminder at this show there was empty seats... but for a bad reason
He was a genius! Miss you so much David Bowie! RIP
A person will never understand this until it becomes part of your existence. I saw a Father and his daughter at the grocery store last week he said World THIS is my daughter and she was right behind him and said WORLD THIS IS ME ! I KNOW that God is Love . I'm done with this i have to move on
David Bowie is a great actor in The Elephant Man! I believe in his performence!
I was lucky enough to see this at the Booth Theater. A bunch of drove down from New Hampshire.
First time ever seeing this clip. Wow! I didn’t even know this play existed. Young and wild, in the West, I missed out on so much. (Sigh)
In 1996, in a theatre attached to a pub, I saw the play again. With different actors of course. Excellent.
The Bernard Pomerance version of The Elephant Man is slightly different to David Lynch's film version.
Apparently, the stage play is more true to life. Excellent, I even got to meet the male lead actor, whose name eludes me.
Congratulations dear David Bowie
Simply stunning.
I too, was fortunate enough to be at the Chicago run. So true that you actually forget that it’s David Bowie performing. He was that good. Wish I still had the stub. A great memory.
Omfgg he is such a great and talented actor and entertainer.. i love thiss
What a beautifully talented man! I hope there is a full version of his performance.
I've always wanted to see this play with bowie wow! thankyou!
Talk about putting your whole self out there. This was incredibly risky for Bowie and his performance was brilliant. He would have preferred a career as a stage actor but we got the rock star and I'm ok with that. Rest in peace, Starman.
Tear JERKING!!! I remember when this was broadcast on the ABC! Too young to appreciate it after having seen the John Hurt movie the year before!
At the time I was a Bowie fan, but skeptical of his new works; but he nailed this. I think what I was tired of was the media version of him.
I never knew he did stage acting. Captivating from the first line.
There will never be another artist like him….
It's a real shame to think,
David performed the elephant man
For September 1980 to January 1981, so the story was that John Lennon had booked tickets to see the show along with Yoko, and so did Mark David Chapman (Lennon's Killer) and apparently Mark was going to shoot David in stage if he didn't kill John
And on the day after John's murder
December 9th David performed the Elephant man, traumastised by the death of a friend, and there were 3 empty seats that night 1 for John, 1 for Yoko and 1 for Chapman
So think if Lennon survived we wouldn't have Bowie....
Just a little thing I'd though I would put on here for a history of his performance.
@@brendahettmansberger2905
John was killed on the 8th
The elephant man show was on the 9th
Your comment makes no sense
Amazing performance by a transcendant artist.
David Bowie the Is the elephant man on prime video
I was seated in Orchestra center Row D (for Dorri). Best birthday present ever!!
The first time I ever saw Bowie perform was in this play at the end of November 1980.
Capolavoro
hartbreaking scene...
The elephant man was like the version of the hunchback of notre dame and the others.
Thanks, murielsartre!!!!
I played Doctor Gaum in this play. The whole play was ruined when the old lady I was taking care of, kicked me out of the place and the director wouldn't let me move in with her as I tried to find another place in LA to stay. What was funny, was that a year before, I was making a music video to Bowie's song "Heroes", and, had a stroke, making me SOUND like the John Hurt's version of the Elephant Man. I was only 21 when I had that stroke.
Must have been a stroke of genius.