Shadowlands (1993)

C.S. Lewis, a world-renowned Christian theologian, writer, and professor, leads a passionless life until he meets a spirited poet from the U.S.

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

William Nicholson (screenplay), William Nicholson (play)

Stars:

Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger, Julian Fellowes

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 11 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

C.S. Lewis is the author of the "Chronicles of Narnia" books. Known as Jack, he teaches at Oxford during the 1950s. 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 ill and their lives become complicated.

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Plot Keywords:

oxford | england | friend | book | author | 

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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:

Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$25,842,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Price Entertainment, Spelling Films International, Shadowlands Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

131 min 115 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sir Anthony Hopkins prefers to memorize lines on his own, while Debra Winger prefers extensive on-set rehearsals. To accommodate Winger, Sir Richard Attenborough would rehearse with her, reading Hopkins' lines.

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Goofs

Joy Gresham had two sons, David and Douglas, but only one son, Douglas is depicted in the film.

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Quotes

Joy Gresham: Are you TRYING to be offensive, or merely stupid?

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Connections

Referenced in BBC Proms: Prom 2: Music from Great British Films (2007)

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Soundtracks

Toccata and Fugue in D
(uncredited)
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Heard at the insignia ceremony

User Reviews

Spellbinding ride through the Shadowlands

Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger are perfectly cast in this beautiful film that contains what maybe the best and most haunting scenes in the history of motion pictures.

I didn't realize that there was almost no music until the third time I watched it. Hopkins delivers a career-best performance and Joseph Mazzello (as Winger's son) is terribly underbilled (his performance is superb), and I have no idea why Shadowlands didn't even land a Best Picture Academy Award nomination, it's certainly worth the price of the rental.

+ (GOOD THINGS) 1.) Death scene 2.) Chemistry between Hopkins and Winger 3.) Richard Attenborough's direction 4.) Hopkin's performance 5.) William Nicholson's script 6.) Winger's performance 7.) Joseph Mazzello's performance

• (BAD THINGS) 1.) Winger's accent

Total: 9.5/10