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Mrs. Dalloway

Play trailer Poster for Mrs. Dalloway PG-13 Released Sep 4, 1997 1h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 34 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
First seen in Virginia Woolf's novel, Clarissa Dalloway (Vanessa Redgrave) looks back on her youth as she readies for a gathering at her house. The wife of a legislator (John Standing) and a doyenne of London's upper-crust party scene, Clarissa finds that the plight of ailing war veteran Septimus Warren Smith (Rupert Graves) reminds her of a past romance with Peter Walsh (Michael Kitchen). In flashbacks, young Clarissa (Natascha McElhone) explores her possibilities with Peter.
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Mrs. Dalloway

Critics Reviews

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Lisa Schwarzbaum Entertainment Weekly Director Marleen Gorris and screenwriter Eileen Atkins have done a remarkable job of suggesting the inner mental jumble Woolf strove to convey and constructing an exterior narrative of luminous beauty. Rated: A- Sep 7, 2011 Full Review Emanuel Levy Variety A highly romantic, deeply melancholy drama, the film offers psychological and existential insights about the inevitable effects - and price - of life choices. Mar 26, 2009 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The first act will be perplexing for those unfamiliar with the novel, but Redgrave's performance steers us through, and by the end we understand with complete, final clarity what the story was about. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Jan Stuart The Advocate It's a complicated strategy -- the film manages to jump three time frames and locales before the end of the opening credits -- but it works. Jun 1, 2022 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com Rated: 3/5 Oct 1, 2005 Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall Great story but stilted film. Rated: 2/5 Jun 12, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alain E I must be the intended audience for this movie because I found it perfect. I have not read the book to know if it follows it completely. It is a very insightful examination of a person approaching old age and attempting to take account of her life. There are constant flashbacks that feel completely organic. Redgrave is superb and all the other cast perform very well. Take for example the case of the shell shocked ex soldier. The depiction of his behavior and that of his wife’s and his doctor’s ring absolutely true. Nice color photography. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/28/25 Full Review Kathy P I was disappointed. I haven't read the book and in reality the movie should be able to stand alone. It lacked any real depth of characters, an opportunity missed in portraying PTSD, depression, women's limited choices, sexuality and unrequited love. A remake might be able to do wonders with the basic story background this movie gave. Hopefully the book would provide more depth, but possibly not, however you shouldn't need to read the book to understand the characters of a movie. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/06/23 Full Review Audience Member Vanessa Redgrave can deliver an internal monologue like no one else. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/06/23 Full Review Pauline B Don't like Vanessa Redgrave. Slow Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/25/17 Full Review Audience Member This adaptation of Virginia Woolf's signature novel of the same name is a beautiful narrative about the titular matriarch's reflections on her choices made in her younger life one afternoon before her evening party, marred only by a peculiar subplot involving a shell-shocked soldier. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Watched the first half twice as E fell asleep the first time .... actually it's a difficult read turned into a difficult film, so a second look at the opening was a good way to get a handle on the structure and intention. It's well acted and no doubt true to the novel, which was no doubt groundbreaking in its day. It's more about message than character: and it didn't really speak to me from this time and place. The trials and tribulations of posh folk in the Twenties - nope. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Mrs. Dalloway

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Cast & Crew

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Marleen Gorris

Director

Vanessa Redgrave

Mrs. Clarissa Dalloway

Natascha McElhone

Young Clarissa

Rupert Graves

Septimus Warren Smith

Michael Kitchen

Peter Walsh

John Standing

Richard Dalloway

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Mrs. Dalloway

Mrs. Dalloway (1997) Mrs. Dalloway (1997) Mrs. Dalloway (1997) Mrs. Dalloway (1997) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis First seen in Virginia Woolf's novel, Clarissa Dalloway (Vanessa Redgrave) looks back on her youth as she readies for a gathering at her house. The wife of a legislator (John Standing) and a doyenne of London's upper-crust party scene, Clarissa finds that the plight of ailing war veteran Septimus Warren Smith (Rupert Graves) reminds her of a past romance with Peter Walsh (Michael Kitchen). In flashbacks, young Clarissa (Natascha McElhone) explores her possibilities with Peter.
Director
Marleen Gorris
Producer
Stephen Bayly, Lisa Katselas Paré
Screenwriter
Virginia Woolf, Eileen Atkins
Distributor
First Look
Production Co
First Look Pictures Releasing
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 4, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.3M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
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