Shirley Valentine (1989)

Shirley is a 42-year-old Liverpudlian bored housewife, who takes a holiday trip to Greece, meeting a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point of finally being unrecognizable by her husband.

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

Willy Russell (play), Willy Russell (screenplay)

Stars:

Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Julia McKenzie

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pauline Collins	...	Shirley Valentine
Tom Conti	...	Costas
Julia McKenzie	...	Gillian
Alison Steadman	...	Jane
Joanna Lumley	...	Marjorie
Sylvia Syms	...	Headmistress
Bernard Hill	...	Joe
George Costigan	...	Dougie
Anna Keaveney	...	Jeanette
Tracie Bennett	...	Millandra
Ken Sharrock	...	Sydney
Karen Craig	...	Thelma
Gareth Jefferson	...	Brian
Gillian Kearney	...	Young Shirley
Catharine Duncan	...	Young Marjorie

Storyline

Shirley's a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, who finds herself talking to the wall while she prepares her husband's chip'n'egg, wondering what happened to her life. She compares scenes in her current life with what she used to be like and feels she's stagnated and in a rut. But when her best friend wins an all-expenses-paid vacation to Greece for two, Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a different light.

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Plot Keywords:

greece | vacation | housewife | extramarital affair | holiday romance | 

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Taglines:

No one thought she had the courage. The nerve. Or the lingerie.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The favorite film of Queen Elizabeth the Second, according to author Adam Helliker.

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Goofs

Some later re-releases of the film on UK DVD contain the "garter belt" dubbing over the "suspender belt" change. This was only meant for the US release.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Shirley Valentine: Hiya Wall.
[to the camera]
Shirley Valentine: Well what's wrong with that? There's a woman three doors down talks to her microwave. Talking to a microwave! Wall, what's the world coming to ?

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Alternate Versions

In the theatrical release version, when she is talking about her husbands views on sex she says "But it doesn't go as well as the Ford Cortina", however in the version that was premiered on the BBC this line was dubbed to "but it doesn't go as well as the Ford Escort". Presumably this had something to do with product placement in that at the time the film was shown the Ford Escort was still being made whereas the Cortina ceased production in about 1983.

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Connections

Featured in Granada Reports: 19 June 2017: Evening Bulletin (2017)

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Soundtracks

Rock from 9 Jive Till 5
Written Tim Broughton and Eddie Jones

User Reviews

Getting older doesn't mean getting old

I've often used this film to cheer me up when I feel down. As I pass through middle age myself, it reminds me that, with the right attitude toward life, the years alone need not make us feel old.

Shirley discovers what we all need to learn: if life ain't right, then fix it!

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 August 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shirley Valentine

Filming Locations:

Waldegrave School for Girls, Fifth Cross Road, Twickenham, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$245,422, 4 September 1989

Gross USA:

$6,056,912

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,056,912

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1