Lewis, especially, this movie is definitely a recommended watch. It understands that not everyone falls into love through the avenue of physical desire. In the movie about his life, shadowlands, one of his students makes a remark to him about our desire to read and reach out to the world beyond our four walls, stating, we read to know were not. And if you havent read much of his work, shadowlands is a beautiful story, well done, superbly acted, and might help you get into the whole body of work. Lewis through the shadowlands includes both, a 90minute television version and 73minute abridged version. Thanks to brilliant performances from debra winger and especially anthony hopkins, shadowlands is a deeply moving portrait of british scholar c. Christopher can scoff, jack, but i know how hard youve been praying. Lewis and learn more about the man behind the books. The references to the writers views on pain are very repetitive in shadowlands. Lewis and joy davidson shadowlands play, a stage play adapted from the 1985 tv movie by william nicholson about c. Lewis, the irishborn writer and lecturer whose theological works and chronicles of narnia books are invoked here, and the american poet joy.
Lewis joss ackland is an oxford academic in his 50s, riding high on the success of his series of narnia childrens books. Attenborough, here are five great quotes from shadowlands. Aug 25, 2014 the film also did well to spread messages of faith taken from c. According to our pals at wikipedia, shadowlands is a 1993 british biographical drama film about the relationship between irish academic c. Information and translations of shadowlands in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Gresham wants to settle in london, and lewis helps her by marrying. This is the first part of the tv movie released in 1985 about the love story between cs lewis and joy gresham. Through the shadowlands cs lewis dvd christian movies. Shadowlands dvd is an elegant drama and has hopkins working during the period of some of his most prolific work as actor. Jan 01, 1985 shadowlands doesnt have all the deep thoughts and summaries of situations of sbj but its a great way to get to know cs lewis and the people he cared most and with joy in the pages it adds the romance element sbj lacks. Shadowlands script transcript from the screenplay andor. Lewis anthony hopkins remains untouched by any great passion until he. I pray because the need flows out of me, waking and sleeping.
Shadowlands 1993 film, a 1993 adaptation of the william nicholson play. Anthony hopkins is superb as c s lewis and i couldnt imagine anyone else playing joy gresham. Shadowlands, directed by richard attenborough, based on the stage play by william nicholson, is intelligent, moving and beautifully acted. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. Shadowlands video game, 1992 computer role playing game published by domark. Being a lewis fan, i will admit, i am probably more biased towards liking this movie in general. Lewis, and his brief but tragic love affair with joy davidman gresham. Based on a play written by the step son of cs lewis. Lewis learns joy has terminal canceremotions he has written about, but never experienced. The movie shadowlands describes the loss of his wife, joy, recalling much of the suffering he felt as child when his mother died. As a coda to his book, the problem of pain, shadowlands the movie shows the viewer how c. Aug 07, 20 not quite a decade later, anthony hopkins, debra winger, and edward hardwicke who plays lewiss brother warnie made a full length film called shadowlands two hours and 20 some minutes. Lewis reacts when sudden tragedy strikes him down through the suffering and death of his wife joy. Lewis faithful prayers were getting god to help his wife.
This film is about the agonizing spiritual crisis of c. An american fan, joy gresham, arrives to meet him for tea in oxford. Lewis as a very intellectual man who loved looking for answers. Cs lewis is the author of the narnia books the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe. With all the hype surrounding the movie version of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, it seemed fitting for me to finally get around to viewing shadowlands 1993, a touching, intelligent film about narnias creator, c. Lewis reacts when sudden tragedy strikes him down through. Written by william nicholson based on a script by brian sibley and norman stone. Shadowlands directed by richard attenborough 1 minutes pg rating commentary by kevin miller.
The shadowlands movie makes lewis much more human from the start and gives him different forums in which to express his humanity. Lewis and his marriage to joy davidman gresham and directed by sir richard attenborough, was released in the united states on christmas day, 1993. Mar 11, 2020 i read cs lewis a lot, especially during my morning devotional time. Together, they find a way to accept and honor the time they have shared together, and under the sensitive direction of richard attenborough, shadowlands arrives at a conclusion that. A stageplay of the same title by william nicholson had been produced by the bbc in 1988 and has been shown on pbs in america since then. Lewis and american poet joy davidman, her death from cancer, and how this challenged lewiss christian faith. This movie chronicles the heartbreak of lewis, the devastating doubts that.
Lewis strong faith in christ, to which he devoted his lifes work, was greatly shaken after the loss of his wife, joy. A work of indisputable technical quality and great visual appeal that ponders on pure love, the fleeting nature of life, the existence of god, pain and loss. With hopkins in the lead, and attenboroughs attention to detail, this movie is. Anthony hopkins portrays professor lewis at oxford. The play limits lewis interactions to warnie, his colleagues, joy and illnessrelated people like doctors, and douglas. He went on to say that debra winger in the hollywood version of shadowlands gave the best portayal of his mothershe recieved an academy award nomination for her work. At the cs lewis institute in the wash dc area in a presentation on cs lewis his stepson douglas grisham said that joss ackland gave an accurate portrayal of lewis. Noted author and scholar finds love, then must endure its loss. He is both a man of deep christian faith, as well as a very educated apologist. The success of the stage play lead to it being adapted again by nicholson for a feature film. Hastings street, camden, london nw1 oxford railway station has been completely modernised since the films setting of the 1950s, so the railway scenes used britains only perfectly preserved mainline steam facility, the great central railway, at loughborough central station. If youre a cs lewis fan you have probably read enough of his writings to have a background for this movie. Lewis says that when he prays because he cant help himself not to get any gain.
Nov 24, 2008 i own nothing i am just a fan of this movie and this actor. With anthony hopkins, debra winger, julian fellowes, roddy mauderoxby. Shadowlands 1993 dvd is an excellent drama that holds up well some 20 years later. S lewis and the american poet joy gresham and her son douglas. Shadowlands premiered in 1989 in the west end and in 1990 on broadway.
In addition to those people, the movie also shows lewis with students he teaches at oxford. The acting is splendid, the script is literate, and the production design is firstrate. Through the shadowlands dvd through the shadowlands is a heartwrenching tale of love, loss, and rebirth. Lewis anthony hopkins is a world renowned writer and professor. You can tell the movie it is a product of its time and probably did not have a very big budget. I love reading all of his books as well as books by him and watching shows movies about him. Lewis tragic relationship with joy gresham is presented with great dignity in the movie shadowlands.
Shadowlands drama with anthony hopkins, debra winger. This original heartwarming account of his marriage to joy davidman gives you insight into how lewis moved forward in faith out of the dark shadowlands following his beloved wifes death. It is directed by richard attenborough with a screenplay by william nicholson based on. When he begins corresponding with an american, joy gresham. I know, i know, i still need to get the cast names in there and ill be eternally tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free.
Shadowlands, a movie very loosely based on the life of c. In a moving scene, he brings a minister to her bedside to repeat their marriage ceremony with vows promised to god. Theres a thrill down deep inside when you know you have a really good book waiting for you at the end of the day. Released by angel in 1994 cdq 72435 55093 2 1 containing music from shadowlands 1993. Lewis and a divorced american woman named joy gresham. I want to see the one with anthony hopkins as lewis to compare. Finally, the shadowlands script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the anthony hopkins and debra winger movie about c. Problem of pain, shadowlands the movie shows the viewer how c.
Lewis and american poet joy davidman, her death from cancer, and how this challenged lewis s christian faith. Lewis and american poet joy davidman, her death from. Dec 29, 1993 shadowlands is the unlikely love story of c. Shadowlands dvd is a terrific drama with a solid script, direction, lead performances, cinematography and set design. Tragically joy becomes terminally unwell and their lives become complicated. I had seen this movie years ago but after rereading a couple of lewiss books, and visiting his home, the kilns in oxford, i wanted to see the movie again. Shadowlands doesnt have all the deep thoughts and summaries of situations of sbj but its a great way to get to know cs lewis and the people he cared most and with joy in the pages it adds the romance element sbj lacks. Dont expect superb acting, but do expect an interesting look into the life of c.
Title is a quote from a character in the movie, shadowlands a movie about cs lewis life, and so true. Lewis, a worldrenowned christian theologian, writer and professor, leads a passionless life until he meets spirited poet joy gresham from the u. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly transcribed using the screenplay andor viewings of shadowlands. Lewis assumes responsibility for her care and falls in love. Through the shadowlands dvd sherri s, 07272010 for those who have an interest in c. Not quite a decade later, anthony hopkins, debra winger, and edward hardwicke who plays lewiss brother warnie made a full length film called.
Known as jack, he teaches at an oxford college, during the 1930s. The film also did well to spread messages of faith taken from c. Shadowlands is a 1993 film about the middleaged british bachelor writer and professor c. Shadowlands is a 1993 british biographical drama film about the relationship between academic c. With joss ackland, claire bloom, david waller, rupert baderman. Lewis, a worldrenowned christian theologian, writer and professor, leads a. Shadowlands tv movie, a 1985 bbc tv movie about the relationship between c. Lewis writings a strong connection between pain and prayer. It was directed by richard attenborough with a screenplay by william nicholson based on his 1985 television film and 1989 stage play of. Shadowlands play, a tv film adapted for the stage by william nicholson about c. In the movie, lewis colleagues praise him and affirm that c. One day, he meets joy gresham debra winger, an american poet touring england with her son.
Shadowlands 1993 had previously been filmed as a wellregarded british television movie in 1985 starring joss ackland as lewis. The lewises enjoy a satisfying but brief time together. Shadowlands is a perfectly competent biographical drama, magnificently performed by anthony hopkins and encompassing the best features of british period films, it is sober, elegant and subtle. Is life but a shadow the shadowlands ben witherington. The love, grief, pain, and sorrow were so shattering to lewis that his basic christian beliefs, magnificently communicated in his many books, were now called into serious doubt.
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