Shadowlands (1993)

C.S. Lewis, a world-renowned writer and professor, leads a passionless life until he meets spirited poet Joy Gresham.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

William Nicholson (screenplay), William Nicholson (play)

Stars:

Julian Fellowes, Roddy Maude-Roxby, Anthony Hopkins

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julian Fellowes	...	Desmond Arding
Roddy Maude-Roxby	...	Arnold Dopliss
Michael Denison	...	Harry Harrington
Andrew Seear	...	Bob Chafer
Tim McMullan	...	Nick Farrell
John Wood	...	Christopher Riley
Andrew Hawkins	...	Rupert Parrish
Peter Howell	...	College President
Anthony Hopkins	...	Jack Lewis
Edward Hardwicke	...	Warnie Lewis
Robert Flemyng	...	Claude Bird
James Frain	...	Peter Whistler
Toby Whithouse	...	Frith
Daniel Goode	...	Lieven
Scott Handy	...	Standish

Storyline

CS Lewis is the author of the Narnia books - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. Known as Jack, he teaches at an Oxford College, during the 1930's. An American fan, Joy Gresham, arrives to meet him for tea in Oxford. It is the beginning of a love affair. Tragically Joy becomes terminally unwell and their lives become complicated.

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Plot Keywords:

oxford | england | love | author | friend | 

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Taglines:

He thought that magic only existed in books, and then he met her.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 January 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tierra de sombras

Filming Locations:

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

£3,033,231 (UK) (15 April 1994)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Price Entertainment, Spelling Films International, Shadowlands Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min 115 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one of the scenes in which Douglas Gresham is reading in bed, you can see he is reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Tolkien was a good friend and colleague of C.S. Lewis.

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Goofs

In one of the scenes in Magdalen College Chapel, a character is shown singing from a copy of the "New English Hymnal" which was not published until the 1980s. The descant to one of the hymns sung was also written later than the date at which the film is set.

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Quotes

Joy: The pain then is part of the happiness now. That's the deal.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Deadly Bees (1998)

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Soundtracks

Performed by London Symphony Orchestra and The Choir of Magdalen College Oxford
Directed by Grayston Ives
Soloists Daniel Cochlin & Daren Geraghty

User Reviews

A Different and Edifying Look at Love and Death

Two different, yet complimentary people meet and discover they have something in common: the conviction that life is a gift. C. S. Lewis, an Englishman, an Oxford don who lives the interior life, is confronted by an American writer-poet who shows him how to become a part of the world in a way that makes the imagery of his works become manifest.

Then, she dies. What does this do to his faith?

The casting is perfect.

"Shadowlands" contains the most powerful deathbed scene ever recorded on film.