Plot
A real-life incident involving two major literary figures was dramatized for British television in 1985 under the title Shadowlands. Joss Ackland stars as English author C.S. Lewis, who in 1950 begins a correspondence with American poet Joy Gresham, here played by Claire Bloom. Though Lewis is a confirmed bachelor and Gresham is a wife and mother, their long-distance friendship blossoms into something deeper. In 1952, Gresham, newly divorced, moves to England to be nearer Lewis, who has no inclination to marry. A spiritual crisis profoundly affects the relationship--and completely alters Lewis' outlook on life. Shadowlands premiered in America over PBS on October 29, 1986; screenwriter William Nicholson later adapted his script into a play, which was filmed by director Richard Attenborough in 1993, with Anthony Hopkins as Lewis and Debra Winger as Gresham. ~ Hal Erickson, RoviReview
This motion picture superbly chronicles the profound but painful love shared by British author C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) and American poet Joy Davidman Gresham. While documenting an important period in the life of the esteemed Lewis -- a novelist, teacher, philosopher, and devout convert from atheism to Christianity -- the film also explores the painful happiness of falling in love late in life, when new risks both terrorize and tantalize. William Nicholson's script sparkles with gentle wit. For example, after Lewis secretly marries Gresham in a civil ceremony in 1955 solely to qualify her for British citizenship, she observes that wagging tongues say they are unmarried and committing sin when they are really married and remaining chaste. Josh Ackland and Claire Bloom perform brilliantly as the enamored couple, projecting the quiet passion -- and compassion -- that Lewis and Gresham have for each other after she develops cancer and they marry in a religious ceremony in 1957, when Lewis is nearing 60. Other excellent performances abound, including that of David Waller as Lewis' brother, Warnie, and those of Rupert Baderman and Rhys Hopkins as Gresham's children. Throughout the film, the script deftly probes the meaning of love, suffering, and life itself while eschewing melodrama and sentimentality. The film's ending is optimistic, suggesting that the "shadowlands" of the material world are only a poor reflection of the glittering world beyond death. ~ Mike Cummings, RoviCast
Joss Ackland - C.S. Lewis; Rupert Baderman - Douglas; Claire Bloom - Joy Davidman; Rhys Hopkins - David; Tim Preece - Alan Gregg; Philip Stone - Harry Harrington; David Waller - Warnie LewisCredit
Norman Stone - Director, Ken Howard - Composer (Music Score), David M. Thompson - Producer, William Nicholson - Screenwriter| Shadowland: Edge of Night (2009 Film), Shadowland (2009 Film) | |
| Shadowlands (1993 Film), Shadowless Sword (2006 Film) |
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