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Shirley Valentine

Play trailer Poster for Shirley Valentine R 1989 1h 48m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Feeling trapped in a world of domesticity, Shirley (Pauline Collins), a housewife from Liverpool, England, needs a change in her life before she has another conversation with the walls. When her friend Jane (Alison Steadman) invites her on a trip to a Greek island, Shirley jumps at the chance. Upon landing, Jane ditches Shirley for a fling, which means Shirley is left to her own devices. Shirley wanders the island, meets a taverna owner (Tom Conti) and begins to find the joy in life again.
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Shirley Valentine

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times There were moments during the movie when I cringed at the manipulative dialogue as the heroine recited warmed-over philosophy and inane one-liners when she should have been allowed to speak for herself. Rated: 1/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Edward Porter Sunday Times (UK) Its upbeat charm still comes mainly from Shirley herself — played with warmth and sparkiness by Pauline Collins — but other actors also contribute, most notably Tom Conti as a Greek charmer. Mar 13, 2023 Full Review Olly Richards Sunday Times (UK) A timeless comic performance, every line underplayed and the fourth wall broken for knowing glances to camera. Sep 19, 2022 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) Loses its ingenuity and intimidation. [Full review in Spanish] Jun 29, 2022 Full Review Danny Brogan Common Sense Media Classic British comedy challenges gender stereotypes; sex. Rated: 4/5 Jan 24, 2020 Full Review Kathi Maio Sojourner A marvelous women's film that gives us a '70s heroine instead of an '80s heroine. Sep 9, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jeffrey P It’s a wonderful film for anyone (well, all of us, at one time or another) who has felt they’ve adopted a stereotypical role in life—mother, father, breadwinner/provider, whatever—and finds themselves questioning the point of it all, and wondering what would happen if they just…stopped. Just lived somewhat selfishly, discovered their lives, did what they felt was right instead of doing what they’re supposed to do. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/17/25 Full Review Glafira Regina O In general, it is a very good, light comedy film about a woman in a mid-life crisis, who is not happy with her life - her husband perceives her as a housewife, and her grown children - as a nanny. Therefore, one day Shirley packs her things and secretly flies to Greece for a short vacation - and meets a handsome Greek there. By the end of the film, he turns out to be nothing more than a fraud, pretending to be a loving husband in front of female tourists, and Shirley still stays at the hotel - already as a waitress who abandoned her past life in Britain. The only negative of the film is the open ending. In the end, a man does come to see Shirley, but we are not shown anything about what they talked about, nor how the meeting ended. My rating: 8/10 Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/28/24 Full Review Gnr E I loved it. Comedy drama movies always exciting Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/22/24 Full Review Munkhchimeg T Liked the point. Makes me think abour who is in charge for your happiness Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/22/24 Full Review isla s This is a comedy drama film with some amusing moments but its also quite clearly a film that has aged. I suppose its a nice form of nostalgia, in a way. Its an easy watch and its even somewhat thoughtful. This is a good film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Lovely movie, with a lot of humor, but serious and with a good message ast the same time. Cute, sweet movie Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Shirley Valentine

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Cast & Crew

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Lewis Gilbert

Director

Pauline Collins

Shirley Valentine

Tom Conti

Costas Caldes

Alison Steadman

Jane

Julia McKenzie

Gillian

Joanna Lumley

Marjorie Majors

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Shirley Valentine

Shirley Valentine (1989) Shirley Valentine (1989) Shirley Valentine (1989) Shirley Valentine (1989) Shirley Valentine (1989) Shirley Valentine (1989) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Feeling trapped in a world of domesticity, Shirley (Pauline Collins), a housewife from Liverpool, England, needs a change in her life before she has another conversation with the walls. When her friend Jane (Alison Steadman) invites her on a trip to a Greek island, Shirley jumps at the chance. Upon landing, Jane ditches Shirley for a fling, which means Shirley is left to her own devices. Shirley wanders the island, meets a taverna owner (Tom Conti) and begins to find the joy in life again.
Director
Lewis Gilbert
Producer
Lewis Gilbert
Screenwriter
Willy Russell, Willy Russell
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures
Rating
R
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 30, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.7M
Runtime
1h 48m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Aspect Ratio
35mm
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