Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.Anna and Mike portray two characters in a film set in 19th century England who fall in love despite the fact that Mike's character is engaged.
- Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 11 wins & 20 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- John Fowles
- Harold Pinter
- Karel Reisz(uncredited)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe source novel does not feature the subplot of the actors and actresses playing the parts in a modern day movie. However, it had three alternate endings, from which readers could choose their favorite. Creating two parallel story lines allowed the filmmakers to include two of those endings, one happy and one tragic.
- GoofsWhile at the house in the Lake District, the reaction to Sarah being pushed to the ground by Charles is genuine. Meryl Streep actually hits her head on the floor and when Jeremy Irons acknowledges, she nods, giggles, and reorients herself in position next to him.
- Quotes
Sarah: I knew it was ordained that I should never marry an equal; so, I married shame. It is my shame that has kept me alive - my knowing that I am truly not like other women. I - I shall never, like them, have - children and a husband, and the pleasures of a home. Sometimes I pity them. I have a freedom they cannot understand. No insult, no blame, can touch me. I have set myself beyond the pale. I am nothing. I am hardly human any more. I am the French lieutenant's - whore!
- ConnectionsFeatured in The South Bank Show: The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
I should have liked this film more than I did, although I did enjoy it. It's beautiful to look at, shot mostly in Lyme Regis on the south coast of England, it focuses on actors making a movie in contemporary times; and the story of that movie, which takes place in Victorian England. Basically, two love stories involving the Meryl and Jeremy characters, one story seemingly tragic, barreling however toward a happy ending; the other, a modern story, ending unhappily, at least for Jeremy. Sometimes, it's almost very briefly unclear at first, which story you are actually watching, which is a nice touch. I liked it but probably would have liked it more, had I seen it in 1981.
Like the Jeanne Moreau character's sailor in The Sailor from Gibraltar, one wonders if the French lieutenant really existed.
- AlsExGal
- Jun 11, 2024
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Die Geliebte des französischen Leutnants
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $8,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $26,890,068
- Gross worldwide
- $26,890,068
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