Shadowlands (1985) (TV)

Director:

Norman Stone

Writer:

William Nicholson (writer)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Noted author and scholar finds love, then must endure its loss...

Plot Keywords:

Cancer | Christianity | Death | Divorce | Faith

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Joss Ackland	...	C.S. Lewis
Rupert Baderman	...	Douglas
Claire Bloom	...	Joy Davidman
Rhys Hopkins	...	David
Alan MacNaughton	...	Christopher Riley
Tim Preece	...	Alan Gregg
Norman Rutherford	...	Paxford
Philip Stone	...	Harry Harrington
David Waller	...	Warnie Lewis

Also Known As:

C.S. Lewis Through the Shadowlands

Runtime:

73 min (VHS version)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

C.S. Lewis: Why am I so afraid? I never knew her love could hurt so much, and I love you and all I want is to love you. Beyond every door I hear your voice saying to me, 'This is only the land of shadows. Real life hasn't begun yet.'

Movie Connections:

Remade as Shadowlands (1993)

More informative but less emotional than the Hollywood version.

This version did not move me as deeply as the later, Hollywood version starring Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger. While it was beautifully filmed and superbly acted, the BBC version was more packed with dialog that imparted information which I found fascinating. It gave me a detailed glimpse of the intellectual, theological and moral considerations that motivated C. S. Lewis. It was therefore more interesting and stimulating than the Hollywood version, but not nearly as visually stunning or viscerally affecting. Still, while I did not leave a heaping mound of sodden Kleenex in the theater, I did use one, and at frequent intervals. I enjoyed this film every bit as much as the Hollywood version, and was grateful for the increased understanding I gained.