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84 Charing Cross Road

Play trailer Poster for 84 Charing Cross Road PG 1987 1h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
85% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
New York City bibliophile Helene Hanff (Anne Bancroft) writes to the London bookshop Marks & Co in search of some titles she has not been able to turn up locally. Store manager Frank Doel (Anthony Hopkins) responds politely to her chatty letter, and over the course of two decades, a deep, long-distance friendship evolves. Based on Hanff's epistolary memoir and its later two-person stage adaptation, the film version incorporates new characters, including Doel's wife, Nora (Judi Dench).
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84 Charing Cross Road

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Geoff Andrew Time Out The film has nothing to do with easy nostalgia; it's about real, credible people, and as such finally becomes very moving. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times The result of this high-powered collaboration is a movie of such unrelieved genteelness that it makes one long to head for Schrafft's for a double-gin martini, straight up, and a stack of cinnamon toast from which the crusts have been removed. Rated: 2.5/5 May 20, 2003 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 84 Charing Cross Road is a movie made for people who love London and books. The only problem is that the heroine doesn't get to London until it's too late, and nobody ever seems to read in this movie. Rated: 2/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com "84 Charing Cross Road" is a valuable film for all of the right reasons of theatrical balance and narrative truth. It is a movie that hits you like a live play. Rated: B+ Aug 30, 2017 Full Review Jeffrey M. Anderson Combustible Celluloid This wonderful little gem is something of a critic-proof cult item in my house. Rated: 3.5/4 Feb 10, 2007 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 5/5 Aug 4, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (212) audience reviews
Toby G This touching story, based on the letters between writer Helene Hanff and bookseller Frank Doel, is a polite, easy-going film that shows Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft at their best. Hopkins plays the role in his typical understated fashion, a manner which is perfectly appropriate for the character's generation and British sensibilities. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/23/24 Full Review Steve D I wish they gave the talent involved something to do. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/02/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm a huge bibliophile who has spent many happy hours in the sadly much depleted second hand book scene of Charring Cross Road. That said, I don't see the point in this movie beyond strangely underwhelming sentimentality. It's just showing correspondence between a few people across the Atlantic and that is literally it. It's not emotional, exciting, interesting. It's a nothing film. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Ken R This film offers a superb screenplay adaptation of the play by James Roose-Evans, about a long-term real-life letter writing friendship between a NY Jewish writer & passionate book collector - with the manager and staff of an English second-hand specialist bookstore. Sounds bland and to action addicts, it will be - but to literary lovers and those who cherish stories dealing with strong human bonds, this could become a true favorite. It's a labor of love for the striking Anne Bancroft (as was "The Elephant Man" ‘80) whose husband bought the film rights to this book for her birthday. Anne is simply magnificent as the title character Helene Hanff, deserving all the praise and awards she received. Anthony Hopkins and Judy Dench give excellent support as Frank and Nora Doel, the bookstore manager, and his wife. Several fine British character actors give convincing life to the store's various staff, with all eventually corresponding between the enigmatic Helene. With food rations in place following the war – food parcels are also added to these much welcome exchanges. Direction, cinematography, locations, set design; all contribute to a deliberately paced, but richly rewarding movie experience. Certainly not for all tastes, and not to be watched when tired or wanting overt action but, should offer pure joy for sophisticated audiences and those with a love of classic books. And, of course, the luminous Ann Bancroft. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/02/21 Full Review Audience Member this is you've got mail but with letters & literature fans (oh wait, that was in you've got mail too lol oops), also we get to see what the heck judi dench looks like with long hair so I'm happy Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review s r Good premise, just not a delivery that I enjoyed. Saw it on TCM. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
84 Charing Cross Road

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Movie Info

Synopsis New York City bibliophile Helene Hanff (Anne Bancroft) writes to the London bookshop Marks & Co in search of some titles she has not been able to turn up locally. Store manager Frank Doel (Anthony Hopkins) responds politely to her chatty letter, and over the course of two decades, a deep, long-distance friendship evolves. Based on Hanff's epistolary memoir and its later two-person stage adaptation, the film version incorporates new characters, including Doel's wife, Nora (Judi Dench).
Director
David Jones
Producer
Geoffrey Helman
Screenwriter
Hugh Whitemore
Production Co
Brooksfilms, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 20, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$572.7K
Runtime
1h 37m
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