IMDb > The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
The French Lieutenant's Woman
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The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) More at IMDbPro »

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The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) -- A film is being made of a story, set in 19th century England, about Charles, a biologist who's engaged to be married...
The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   4,233 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Karel Reisz
Writers:
John Fowles (novel)
Harold Pinter (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for The French Lieutenant's Woman on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
August 1981 (UK) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
She was lost from the moment she saw him.
Plot:
A film is being made of a story, set in 19th century England, about Charles, a biologist who's engaged to be married... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 12 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(15 articles)
Their Best Role: Meryl Streep
 (From Cinematical. 18 November 2009, 9:02 AM, PST)
Director Kenny Ortega Bails on 'Footloose' Remake
 (From Cinematical. 26 October 2009, 8:32 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
A wonderful movie more (42 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Meryl Streep ... Sarah / Anna

Jeremy Irons ... Charles Henry Smithson / Mike
Hilton McRae ... Sam
Emily Morgan ... Mary
Charlotte Mitchell ... Mrs. Tranter
Lynsey Baxter ... Ernestina
Jean Faulds ... Cook
Peter Vaughan ... Mr. Freeman
Colin Jeavons ... Vicar
Liz Smith ... Mrs. Fairley
Patience Collier ... Mrs. Poulteney
John Barrett ... Dairyman
Leo McKern ... Dr. Grogan
Arabella Weir ... Girl on undercliff
Ben Forster ... Boy on undercliff
Catherine Willmer ... Dr. Grogan's housekeeper
Anthony Langdon ... Asylum keeper
Edward Duke ... Nathaniel
Richard Griffiths ... Sir Tom
Graham Fletcher-Cook ... Delivery boy

Richard Hope ... Assistant #3
Michael Elwyn ... Montague
Toni Palmer ... Mrs. Endicott
Cecily Hobbs ... Betty Anne
Doreen Mantle ... Lady on train
David Warner ... Murphy
Alun Armstrong ... Grimes
Gérard Falconetti ... Davide
Penelope Wilton ... Sonia
Joanna Joseph ... Lizzie
Jude Alderson ... Red-haired prostitute (as Judith Alderson)
Cora Kinnaird ... Prostitute #2
Orlando Fraser ... Tom Elliott
Fredrika Morton ... Girl
Alice Maschler ... Girl #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harriet Walter ... (scenes deleted)
Georgina Hale ... Actress at wrap party (uncredited)
Vicky Ireland ... (uncredited)
Janet Rawson ... (uncredited)
Clare Travers-Deacon ... (uncredited)
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Directed by
Karel Reisz 
 
Writing credits
John Fowles (novel)

Harold Pinter (screenplay)

Produced by
Leon Clore .... producer
Geoffrey Helman .... associate producer
Tom Maschler .... associate producer
 
Original Music by
Carl Davis 
 
Cinematography by
Freddie Francis 
 
Film Editing by
John Bloom 
 
Production Design by
Assheton Gorton 
 
Art Direction by
Allan Cameron 
Norman Dorme 
Terry Pritchard 
 
Set Decoration by
Ann Mollo 
 
Costume Design by
Tom Rand 
 
Makeup Department
Sue Barradell .... makeup artist
Simon Thompson .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Chris Burt .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Hoult .... assistant director
Peter Kohn .... second assistant director
Mathew Simmons .... third assistant director
Paul Tivers .... third assistant director
 
Art Department
Andy Aitken .... plasterer
Mark Fruin .... stand-by propman
 
Sound Department
Don Banks .... sound camera
Bill Rowe .... sound re-recording mixer
Don Sharpe .... sound editor
Ivan Sharrock .... production sound mixer
Lionel Strutt .... adr mixer (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Alan Bryce .... special effects
Nobby Clark .... special effects (as Nobby Clarke)
Paul Corbould .... special effects
Ricky Farns .... special effects
John Humphreys .... sculptor
Garth Inns .... special effects
Michael White .... special effects technician
 
Visual Effects by
Nick Wass .... optical cameraman (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Connor .... still photographer
Gordon Hayman .... camera operator
Roy Larner .... gaffer
John Matthews .... best boy
Jim Dawes .... grip (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brenda Dabbs .... wardrobe supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Jeremy Hume .... assistant editor
Chris Kennedy .... assistant editor
Chris Ridsdale .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Carl Davis .... conductor
Brian Gascoigne .... music arranger: additional arrangements (uncredited)
Christopher Palmer .... music assistant: Carl Davis (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Barry Beckett .... location manager
Kay Fenton .... continuity
Kay Fenton .... script supervisor
Mon Mohan .... title designer
Mark Mostyn .... runner
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Iceland:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Finland:S | Norway:16 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 (video re-rating) (2001) | UK:15 (video rating) (1986) | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:R (certificate #26244) | West Germany:12
Filming Locations:
Borough Market, Borough, London, England, UK more
Company:
Juniper Films more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
An attempt to adapt the novel was made in the 1970's, to star Vanessa Redgrave, but a satisfactory script couldn't be written, and funding was a problem. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Early in the film when Charles takes a horse-drawn carriage to visit Ernestine the horse changes between shots (confirmed by the number of "stocking" feet it has). more
Quotes:
Charles Henry Smithson: [to Ernestina] I can assure you, the true charm of this world resides in this garden. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV) more

FAQ

See Jeremy Irons discuss this film
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
14 out of 21 people found the following comment useful.
A wonderful movie, 31 July 1999
10/10
Author: stills-6 from california

This film is visually fascinating as well as dramatically satisfying. Every camera shot is breathtaking - this includes both stories.

The script is brilliant. I thoroughly enjoyed the post-modernist self-awareness - the blurred line between one reality and the other calls the entire experience into question. But I knew I was watching modern actors playing in a period piece and I was still caught up in the story, both stories - which mirror each other and make you wonder which character is influencing which performance. Irons gets to play two obsessive roles, something he seems to be really good at. Streep is enthralling and brings a third dimension to two enigmatic roles perfectly suited for her.

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