Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Julian Fellowes | ... | Desmond Arding | |
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Roddy Maude-Roxby | ... | Arnold Dopliss |
Michael Denison | ... | Harry Harrington | |
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Andrew Seear | ... | Bob Chafer |
Tim McMullan | ... | Nick Farrell | |
John Wood | ... | Christopher Riley | |
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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 |
C.S. Lewis (Sir Anthony Hopkins) is the author of the "Chronicles of Narnia" books. Known as Jack, he teaches at Oxford during the 1950s. An American fan, Joy Gresham (Debra Winger), arrives to meet him for tea in Oxford. It is the beginning of a love affair. Tragically, Joy becomes terminally ill and their lives become complicated. Written by Matthew Stanfield <mattst@cogs.susx.ac.uk>
This film is Richard Attenborough's best directed film. Unlike Gandhi, it had no ambitions of being a grand scale historical epic. It actually played to Attenborough's strengths as a director, which are story and character development. Of course some fantastic performances from some great actors helped him out immensely. Debra Winger was nominated for an Oscar, and she was great, but we already saw her play the same disease in Terms of Endearment. Anthony Hopkins should have received an Oscar nomination for his incredible multi-layered turn as C. S. Lewis. His lifelong bachelor that falls in love and then questions his own theological beliefs when he grieves is the polar opposite of his most famous role, Hannibal Lechter, and yet he is just as convincing. With Hopkins in the lead, and Attenborough's attention to detail, this movie is one of the most overlooked films on every top 100 list, or in the case of this site, top 250 list. If you like movies that have stories, characters, and atmosphere, this is for you. 8 of 10.