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The French Lieutenant's Woman

  • 1981
  • R
  • 2h 4m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
14K
YOUR RATING
Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
Theatrical Trailer from MGM
Play trailer1:59
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaRomance

Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.

  • Director
    • Karel Reisz
  • Writers
    • John Fowles
    • Harold Pinter
    • Karel Reisz
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Jeremy Irons
    • Hilton McRae
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    14K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Karel Reisz
    • Writers
      • John Fowles
      • Harold Pinter
      • Karel Reisz
    • Stars
      • Meryl Streep
      • Jeremy Irons
      • Hilton McRae
    • 85User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 64Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 Oscars
      • 9 wins & 20 nominations total

    Videos1

    The French Lieutenant's Woman
    Trailer 1:59
    Watch The French Lieutenant's Woman

    Photos153

    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Jeremy Irons in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Sarah and Anna
    Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons
    • Charles and Mike
    Hilton McRae
    • Sam
    Emily Morgan
    • Mary
    Charlotte Mitchell
    • Mrs. Tranter
    Lynsey Baxter
    Lynsey Baxter
    • Ernestina
    Jean Faulds
    • Cook
    Peter Vaughan
    Peter Vaughan
    • Mr. Freeman
    Colin Jeavons
    Colin Jeavons
    • Vicar
    Liz Smith
    Liz Smith
    • Mrs. Fairley
    Patience Collier
    Patience Collier
    • Mrs. Poulteney
    John Barrett
    John Barrett
    • Dairyman
    Leo McKern
    Leo McKern
    • Dr. Grogan
    Arabella Weir
    Arabella Weir
    • Girl on Undercliff
    Ben Forster
    Ben Forster
    • Boy on Undercliff
    Catherine Willmer
    Catherine Willmer
    • Dr. Grogan's Housekeeper
    Anthony Langdon
    Anthony Langdon
    • Asylum Keeper
    Edward Duke
    Edward Duke
    • Nathaniel
    • Director
      • Karel Reisz
    • Writers
      • John Fowles(novel)
      • Harold Pinter(screenplay)
      • Karel Reisz(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The novel "The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1969) does not feature the subplot of the actors and actresses playing the parts in a modern day movie. The novel did, however, feature three alternate endings, from which readers could choose their favorite. Creating two parallel story lines allowed the filmmakers to include two of those endings, one happy and one tragic.
    • Goofs
      While at the house in the Lake District, the reaction to Sarah being pushed to the ground by Charles is genuine. Meryl Streep actually hits her head on the floor and when Jeremy Irons acknowledges, she nods, giggles, and reorients herself in position next to him.
    • Quotes

      Sarah: I knew it was ordained that I should never marry an equal; so, I married shame. It is my shame that has kept me alive - my knowing that I am truly not like other women. I - I shall never, like them, have - children and a husband, and the pleasures of a home. Sometimes I pity them. I have a freedom they cannot understand. No insult, no blame, can touch me. I have set myself beyond the pale. I am nothing. I am hardly human any more. I am the French lieutenant's - whore!

    • Connections
      Featured in The South Bank Show: The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Adagio from Sonata in D, K 576
      by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart)

      Played by John Lill

    User reviews85

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    With hindsight, a good film
    I have only seen this film once, about 20 years ago, when I was in my mid teens. It intrigued me then, but went completely over my head. I could dimly perceive grand themes in it, but couldn't bring them into focus. A few years ago a friend gave me a John Fowles book to read, "The Magus" and this caused me to re-evaluate this film entirely. For me, the story's strength does not lie in anything definite. It's main themes are suggestion and allegory. The creative role of the mind in human perception is very clearly depicted in "The Magus" and this is central to TFLW too. The 2 central characters, in their modern guises are caught up in this, as the audience is expected to be. Perhaps there is no central message to be understood ... maybe a viewer should just be delighted by the parallels which are revealed by telling these 2 stories in this way ...
    helpful•7
    2
    • octomancer
    • May 20, 2004

    FAQ1

    • See Jeremy Irons discuss this film

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 16, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Die Geliebte des französischen Leutnants
    • Filming locations
      • Lake District, Cumbria, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Juniper Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $26,890,068
    • Gross worldwide
      • $26,890,068
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 4 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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