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84 Charing Cross Road
1986
While searching for rare English books, New York writer Helene Hanff's (Anne Bancroft) letter to a London bookstore, run by Frank Doel (Anthony Hopkins), begins a relationship between the two that spans two decades and two continents. Although their personalities and cultures are miles apart, their friendship blossoms into a .. Read more
| Starring | Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, Eleanor David, Judi Dench |
|---|---|
| Director | David Jones |
| Genres | Drama |
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84 Charing Cross Road
While searching for rare English books, New York writer Helene Hanff's (Anne Bancroft) letter to a London bookstore, run by Frank Doel (Anthony Hopkins), begins a relationship between the two that spans two decades and two continents. Although their personalities and cultures are miles apart, their friendship blossoms into a deeper affection. Bancroft's performance earned her the BAFTA award, the British equivalent of the Oscar. Based on James Roose-Evans's play, which was based on Helene Hanff's memoir.
| Starring | Anne Bancroft, Anthony Hopkins, Eleanor David, Judi Dench, Maurice Denham, Mercedes Ruehl, Wendy Morgan, Jean De Baer, Daniel Gerroll |
|---|---|
| Director | David Jones |
| Studio | SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 35 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Dubbed | French, German, Italian, Spanish |
| Subtitles | DVD: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish |
| Released | DVD: 20 May 2002 Production year: 1986 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (5)
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Adapted from Helene Hanff's bestselling account of her dealings with the staff of a London bookshop, this is an absolute delight. Building his film around the letters exchanged between Hanff and manager Frank Doel, director David Jones manages to create utterly credible characters, convey something of the beauty of books and make some telling comparisons between the gloomy reserve of postwar Britain and the effervescence of Cold War America. However, what makes this gentle drama so compelling are the performances of Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins, who ingeniously fashion a romance between two people who never met.
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"...A joyous celebration of the life of the imagination....The film affords both Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins some of the warmest and most winning moments of their screen careers..."
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Most helpful member's review
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17 out of 17 people found this review helpful
A film from a kinder world
A simply wonderful piece of filmmaking, a gentle, slow-moving piece about the long-distance relationship between an American would-be writer and an English bookseller, as revealed through the personal asides attached to their business correspondence and which developed into a full blown pen-friendship over some 20 years immediately following the War.
It?s a remarkably engaging film, given that in fact nothing really happens ? just a simple tale of ordinary, rather nice people, with the highly restrained, somewhat introverted Londoners very well contrasted with the brasher, louder, more extrovert New Yorkers.
The film has a fine feel for period, being especially good at evoking the austerity of a still-rationed post war London, and the cast is, quite simply, wonderful. Hopkins, in particular, is just so marvellous to watch ? his acting is just so, well, thoughtful. You always know, from a look, from a gesture, what his character?s innermost thoughts are. Just watch (and re-watch!) the scene where he receives a letter with disappointing news, and imparts the news to his secretary. His acting is so understated, so natural, and yet he manages to fully convey the complex series of emotions that letter?s invoked, all of it coming from within character.
The story is based on real events. Sadly, the protagonists are dead now, and the musty antiquarian book shop, redolent of literature, of learning and of more thoughtful and introspective times is also long gone. The site, I believe, subsequently become a record store, and is now some sort of brassy, trashy, wine bar. How times change?.
Apparently this was something of a vanity piece in that Mel Brooks bought the rights to the book as a present for his wife, (Anne Bancroft), who of course took the leading role herself. But if it is a vanity piece, then it?s certainly one of which everybody involved should be very, very proud. -
Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
AT LAST
I read the book 84 Charing Cross Road that the film was based on and have seached for it ever since ,until now!!! It was worth the wait. Its a charming story of a unusual friendship,the casting of Anthoney Hopkins and Anne Bancroft was perfect Not for those who like fast action. But if you have the slightest romantic feeling I would recommend it.
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While searching for rare English books, New York writer Helene Hanff's (Anne Bancroft) letter to a London bookstore, run by Frank Doel (Anthony Hopkins), begins a relationship between the two that ... -