Wide-Eyed and Legless 

The movie chronicles the struggles of Deric and Diana Longden, a happily married couple who try to cope with Diana's inexplicable degenerative disease which causes occasional paralysis of ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writers:

Deric Longden (autobiographical books "Diana's Story" and "Lost For Words"), Jack Rosenthal

Stars:

Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Thora Hird

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Julie Walters	...	Diana Longden
Jim Broadbent	...	Deric Longden
Thora Hird	...	Deric's Mother
Sian Thomas	...	Aileen Armitage
Dinah Handley	...	Hospital Receptionist
Peter Whitfield	...	Fred
Candida Rundle	...	Nurse
Andrew Nicholson	...	Gerald
Martin Wenner	...	Young Doctor
Graham Turner	...	Postman
Andrew Lancel	...	Nick Longden
Ann Rye	...	Joan
Moya Brady	...	Sheila
Carry Clubb	...	Factory Girl
Saima Chaudry	...	Factory Girl

Storyline

The movie chronicles the struggles of Deric and Diana Longden, a happily married couple who try to cope with Diana's inexplicable degenerative disease which causes occasional paralysis of her extremities and periodic blackouts. One day, while attending a literary luncheon, Deric meets Aileen Armitage, a woman novelist with whom he strikes up a close friendship. Diana soon discover their relationship and calls Aileen, asking to meet her.

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Plot Keywords:

novelist | disease | degenerative disease | blackout | medical | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | War

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is taken from the song of the same name by Andy Fairweather Low.

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Quotes

[Diana and Deric have gone to visit Aileen. Aileen is leaning over the bannister as Diana clumsily climbs the stairs backwards, sitting on her bottom]
Aileen Armitage: Climbing upstairs on her what?
Deric Longden: Er, on her own volition.
Diana Longden: That is *not* what I said!
Aileen Armitage: No, I thought it wasn't.

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Connections

Followed by Lost for Words (1999)

User Reviews

An excellent film about life and life.

"The Wedding Gift" tells of a heroic couple's coming to grips with a crippling disease which slowly erodes the wife's health and stumps medical professionals. Believing her death to be imminent and out of love for her husband, the wife prearranges a replacement for herself. "TWG" is a well assembled, scripted, and acted British film with the look of an 8mm shoot based on a true story of a victim of a mysterious affliction which has since come to be known as chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. Not a downer flick, "TWG" is full of life and humor and an excellent watch for anyone, especially those with an affinity for British films.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 September 1993 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Wedding Gift

Box Office

Gross USA:

$214,380

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Island World Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1