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Shadowlands [DVD][1985]

Joss Ackland , Rupert Baderman , Norman Stone    Parental Guidance   DVD
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Joss Ackland, Rupert Baderman, Claire Bloom, Rhys Hopkins, Alan MacNaughton
  • Directors: Norman Stone
  • Writers: Norman Stone, William Nicholson
  • Producers: David M. Thompson
  • Format: PAL, Colour
  • Language: English
  • Region: All Regions
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Revelation Films
  • DVD Release Date: 6 Mar 2000
  • Run Time: 89 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004RCPL
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 64,517 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

Product Description

Acclaimed TV production which was later to become the basis for Richard Attenborough's Oscar-nominated film. C.S.Lewis (Joss Ackland), Oxford professor, confirmed bachelor, and author of the Narnia chronicles, finds his life turned upside down when he falls in love with divorced American poet Joy Davidman (Claire Bloom). The pair marry, but Joy soon becomes gravely ill.


Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Much better than the later film 31 Jan 2005
Format:DVD
Much has been made of Nigel Hawthorne's disappointment at being passed over for the role of C.S. Lewis in favour of Anthony Hopkins, having already played it on the stage. However, the actor who has a real right to feel disgruntled is Joss Ackland, who turns in a superb performance in this little film, with strong support from Claire Bloom. Everything about this film is excellent. It was made by the BBC for its "Everyman" strand (a series which tends to discuss religion rather than dramatise its dilemmas) in 1986, and proved so popular that the play was then transferred to the stage, and thence to the big screen. If you can get hold of a copy, then I advise you to seize the chance to enjoy the original (and best) rendition of this story.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars 'Good' Grief 2 Jan 2009
By Adam Brooks VINE™ VOICE
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
This BBC film, based on the book 'A Grief Observed' by C S Lewis, was later adapted as a stage play and then screenplay with Sir Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger.

It begins with Lewis the Oxord Academic, writer and Christian apologist, in his comfort zone. He is a popular success in all of the above. His is a protected world of an elite academic circle. Lewis believes that his faith has liberated him from a fear of risks and challenge. He considers himself, since his conversion to the Christian faith, as a 'diver,' able to dive into faith without fear of a loss of pride or challenge. Importantly, at this stage, the liberation is mainly at the level of intellect and reason. The fundamental transormation of the soul and heart has only just begun, and is about to leap forward in a wonderful but then shattering and terrible way that Lewis could never have foreseen.
This begins with the correspondence of Joy Gresham, an American woman in an abusive marriage who engages with Lewis intellectually through her letters. They enjoy their correspondence, then Joy suugests that they meet. And slowly, but surely, she begins to lay siege to the walls around his emotional life and heart. The diver is about to dive.
Events progress. Joy's children visit,two lads who put you in mind of the boys in the Narnia stories. Lewis proposes a marriage of convenience, to ensure Joy's citizenship, in a civil ceremony that Lewis is at pains to remove of any emotional conent or significance. In his mind, and to protect his fast crumbling defences, he's helping a friend with a business transaction.
And then, the defences come under nuclear assault when Joy is diagnosed with cancer. Lewis's comforatble world starts to change to one of emotional extremes.
... Read more ›
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A profound adventure 9 Dec 2010
By Ajay
Format:VHS Tape|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having read the review by Adam , I can only agree but there is little more that I can say .

However , it IS the very BEST version of this story and Claire Bloom and Joss Ackland are perfectly matched.

The Grief displayed in the book is at one and the same time both heartbreaking and heart warming .

Rich praise indeed to Joss Ackland - who coul dmelt an iceberg with his portrayal of CS Lewis in love grief and utter desolation .
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5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and heartbreaking 12 Nov 2012
Format:VHS Tape
I am fortunate to have this production on DVD after searching for it after seeing it on the BBC. Ackland is very convincing as C S Lewis. The grief displayed in this production is mirrored by events in Ackland's personal life. The ability to cope with grief is very poignantly and heartbreaking displayed when CS Lewis is trying to comfort two boys who have lost their mother.
Shadowlands (1985) (TV)
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.'

The relationship with his brother and American divorcee Claire Bloom is convincing as is all the settings. You have real insight into CS Lewis life, christian beliefs and Narnia books.
If you are interested in CS Lewis than this is a gem of tv production, and worth every penny if you are fortunate enough to be able to see it.
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