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 distanced himself from love as he distanced himself from pain, until one woman got close enough to open his heart to the world.

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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 Richard Attenborough replaced Sydney Pollack as director. When he came on-board, he had Sir Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger in mind to play the lead roles.

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Goofs

The first time Jack appears in the hospital, the physician comes out of Joy's room and tells him Joy's left leg "snapped like a twig." It is her right leg which is shown collapsing and being treated throughout the film.

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Quotes

Harry: [Jack makes his first public appearance after Joy's death] Well done, Jack. Life must go on.
Jack: I don't know whether it must, Harry, but it certainly does.

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Heaven and Earth/Grumpy Old Men/Shadowlands/In the Name of the Father/The Summer House (1993)

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Soundtracks

Sumer is Icumen In
(uncredited)
Authorship unknown, sometimes attributed to W. de Wycombe
Sung by the choir on May Day morning

User Reviews

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant...what more can I say?

When I first heard of this film I thought it would be too near 'The Remains of the Day', made in the same year and along the same lines. A repressed English man in repressed England (which it is, I should know!), but I couldn't have been more wrong. There are similarities in his character but it doesn't matter because this film is amazing. Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger are brilliant. Winger as the brash American who falls in love with CS Lewis and he with her. It's such a heart wrenching film, you'll be groaning by the end of it. It hits you in all the right places due to Richard Attenborough's brilliant directing and the acting of the two stars. Watch out for Hopkins at the end sat with Winger's son after her death. I challenge anybody not to feel moved as he breaks down in tears. Or as he sits at her death bed. I don't know how he does it but you are so convinced that he is hurting, as we know he is.

My favourtie all time quote comes from this film and I think it defines the film so well. A vicar speaks to CS Lewis after his wife's death and tells him God is the creator and we can't do anything to change his decisions. And Lewis's reply is: "No, we're the creatures aren't we? We're the rats in the cosmic laboratory. I've no doubt the experiment is for our own good but, uh, still makes God the vivisectionist doesn't it?"

Think about it. I highly recommend this film.