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Shirley Valentine

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)
Shirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that her husband doesn't even recognize her.
Play trailer2:42
1 Video
28 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

Shirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that ... Read allShirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that her husband doesn't even recognize her.Shirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that her husband doesn't even recognize her.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lewis Gilbert
  • Writer
    • Willy Russell(play)
  • Stars
    • Pauline Collins
    • Tom Conti
    • Julia McKenzie
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lewis Gilbert
  • Writer
    • Willy Russell(play)
  • Stars
    • Pauline Collins
    • Tom Conti
    • Julia McKenzie
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
    • 52Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:42
    Trailer

    Photos28

    Pauline Collins and Bernard Hill in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Pauline Collins and Gareth Jefferson in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Pauline Collins and Alison Steadman in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Pauline Collins and Bernard Hill in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Tracie Bennett and Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Tom Conti and Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Catharine Duncan and Gillian Kearney in Shirley Valentine (1989)
    Tom Conti in Shirley Valentine (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Pauline Collins
    Pauline Collins
    • Shirley Valentineas Shirley Valentine
    Tom Conti
    Tom Conti
    • Costasas Costas
    Julia McKenzie
    Julia McKenzie
    • Gillianas Gillian
    Alison Steadman
    Alison Steadman
    • Janeas Jane
    Joanna Lumley
    Joanna Lumley
    • Marjorieas Marjorie
    Sylvia Syms
    Sylvia Syms
    • Headmistressas Headmistress
    Bernard Hill
    Bernard Hill
    • Joeas Joe
    George Costigan
    George Costigan
    • Dougieas Dougie
    Anna Keaveney
    Anna Keaveney
    • Jeanetteas Jeanette
    Tracie Bennett
    Tracie Bennett
    • Millandraas Millandra
    Ken Sharrock
    • Sydneyas Sydney
    Karen Craig
    • Thelmaas Thelma
    Gareth Jefferson
    • Brianas Brian
    Gillian Kearney
    Gillian Kearney
    • Young Shirleyas Young Shirley
    Catharine Duncan
    Catharine Duncan
    • Young Marjorieas Young Marjorie
    Cardew Robinson
    • Londoneras Londoner
    Honora Burke
    • Londoner's Wifeas Londoner's Wife
    Marc Zuber
    Marc Zuber
    • Renosas Renos
    • Director
      • Lewis Gilbert
    • Writer
      • Willy Russell(play) (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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 to how she used to be, and feels stagnated and in a rut. But when she best friend wins an all-expenses-paid vacation to Greece for two, Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a better light. —Kathy Li
    • greece
    • vacation
    • housewife
    • extramarital affair
    • middle age romance
    • 75 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • No one thought she had the courage. The nerve. Or the lingerie.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A rarity in film, Pauline Collins' character Shirley sporadically engages the cinema audience by looking straight into the camera as she voices her thoughts, a technique called "breaking the fourth wall". Curiously enough, the film's director Lewis Gilbert earlier directed Michael Caine as the titular Alfie (1966) in which he also spoke his thoughts directly to the viewer.
    • Goofs
      In the US version of the film, when Gillian encounters Shirley choosing underwear for her holiday the phrase "garter belt" is dubbed over the words "suspender belt".
    • Quotes

      Shirley Valentine: I have allowed myself to lead this little life, when inside me there was so much more. And it's all gone unused. And now it never will be. Why do we get all this life if we don't ever use it? Why do we get all these feelings and dreams and hopes if we don't ever use them?

    • Alternate versions
      When the film received its British terrestrial television debut, the BBC edited the famous "You afraid I want to try and make f*** with you" exchange between Costas and Shirley, substituting the profanity for the word "love" and effectively ruining one of the funniest moments in the film (Dougie's reaction to the juicy dialogue). Several people complained, and the next time the BBC showed the film, the bad language was left intact.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Sea of Love/True Love/The Big Picture/Shirley Valentine/The Rachel Papers (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      The Girl Who Used to Be Me
      Music by Marvin Hamlisch

      Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman

      Performed by Patti Austin

      Arranged by David Paich

    User reviews59

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Wonderful Shirley speaks for us all...
    Pauline Collins is my hero. So is Shirley Valentine. They really are. I'm not kidding you. And I am man. This movie speaks to me, even so.

    We all have dreams that have not been realized. We all need Shirley's courage to do as much as we can to live these dreams before we go off to the other place.

    This movie taught me about life. It's not too late to be happy, to be in love, to smile every day and mean it. No matter what age you are.

    Conti is charming and it is a shame we don't see him much anymore. He offers us a type of romantic hero we will never find in a Tom, Hanks or Cruise...too bad.

    Joanna Lumley brings a special charm to her meeting with Shirley. Julia Mackenzie is especially good as her annoying friend.

    Willy Russell cooked up a wonderful script from the wonderful play. Lewis Gilbert put it all together and worked hard to make us smile.

    If you don't fall in love with this movie, you'll need a swift kick. Don't look at me. You'll have to give it to yourself. That's the magic and wonder of Shirley Valentine. She taught me how to kick myself into living!

    Thank you, Shirley. Thank you, Pauline, Bill, Willy and Lewis.
    helpful•52
    5
    • Enrique-Sanchez-56
    • Mar 25, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 30, 1989 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Shirley Valentine - Auf Wiedersehen, mein lieber Mann
    • Filming locations
      • Mykonos, Greece
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,056,912
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $245,422
      • Sep 4, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,056,912
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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