Shadowlands (1993)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Richard Attenborough

Writers:

William Nicholson (play)
William Nicholson (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 January 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

He thought that magic only existed in books, and then he met her.

Plot:

C.S. Lewis, a world-renowned writer and professor, leads a passionless life until he meets spirited poet Joy Gresham.

Plot Keywords:

English Literature | Repressed Love | Philosophy | Bachelor | Fan Marries Hero

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

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	...	C. S. 'Jack' Lewis
Edward Hardwicke	...	Warnie Lewis
Robert Flemyng	...	Claude Bird
James Frain	...	Peter Whistler
Toby Whithouse	...	Frith
Daniel Goode	...	Lieven
Scott Handy	...	Standish

Runtime:

131 min | Canada:115 min (Ontario)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Ireland:G | South Korea:12 | Philippines:G | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Christ Church Meadow, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Price Entertainment

Trivia:

The last film of Michael Denison.

Goofs:

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

Quotes:

C. S. Lewis: Pain is God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Deadly Bees (#10.5)" (1998)

Lewis' step-son says the portrayal of emotion is perfect.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure to correspond with Douglas Gresham. (FYI, Douglas is Joy's son -- thus C.S. Lewis step-son -- played by Joseph Mazzello in this film.) I had recently seen Shadowlands, and so I asked Douglas how "true to life" the picture was. He told me that some details (dates, places) had been changed slightly for obvious dramatic/story-telling reasons, but that the "spirit" and "feeling" of all the emotions portrayed in the movie were perfectly accurate. That's exactly what it all felt like, he said.

I own the movie (and the soundtrack), and have seen it a dozen times... and I still get teary-eyed at the scene where Douglas and Jack cry in each other's arms... this movie rates a perfect 10 from me; I can't find any fault with it at all.