The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981): Cast, Ratings & Box Office
The French Lieutenant's Woman is a 1981 romantic drama directed by Karel Reisz, starring Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep and Lynsey Baxter. It is based on The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles. It runs 2 hours 4 minutes and earned $26.9 million worldwide. It won 3 awards from 20 nominations, among them 5 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 64 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 4m (124 min)
- Director
- Karel Reisz
- Original language
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English - Studio
- United Artists
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The French Lieutenant's Woman About?
The premise of The French Lieutenant's Woman without spoilers, adapted from The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In Victorian England, a biologist named Charles is engaged but becomes captivated by the mysterious Sarah, who exists on the fringes of society. Their passionate and forbidden affair is abruptly cut short, leaving both heartbroken. Unexpectedly, the actors portraying Charles and Sarah—Anna and Mike—find their own romance mirroring the film's narrative, creating a complex interplay between the characters they play and their own lives.
The French Lieutenant's Woman Cast
Jeremy Irons leads the cast, with Meryl Streep and Lynsey Baxter. Directed by Karel Reisz; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director Karel Reisz
Also Starring in The French Lieutenant's Woman
· 6 moreMore from Karel Reisz
More films directed by Karel Reisz, best-rated first: Who'll Stop the Rain, The Gambler, Sweet Dreams and Act Without Words I.
The French Lieutenant's Woman Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The French Lieutenant's Woman 64 on Metacritic.
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Metacritic 64 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 64% User score
See on TMDB
The French Lieutenant's Woman Plot Summary
What happens in The French Lieutenant's Woman from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The film intricately weaves together two captivating narratives that explore themes of passion and self-discovery. In the first story, we find ourselves in a beautifully rendered Victorian era, where the esteemed palaeontologist, Charles Smithson, portrayed by Jeremy Irons, becomes deeply involved with the enigmatic Sarah Woodruff, famously dubbed “the French lieutenant’s woman,” brought to life by Meryl Streep as [Meryl Streep]. Their budding romance blossoms amidst the scenic charm of Lyme Regis, as they both face the challenges posed by their innermost desires and the rigid expectations of society.
Full summary
The whole story of The French Lieutenant's Woman, scene by scene
The French Lieutenant's Woman Box Office
The French Lieutenant's Woman grossed $26.9 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$26.9M
- US & Canada
- $26.9M
The French Lieutenant's Woman Awards & Nominations
The French Lieutenant's Woman won 3 awards from 20 nominations, among them 5 Oscar nominations. Its biggest night was the BAFTA 1982, with 3 wins from 11 nominations.
3 wins20 nominations4 ceremonies
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BAFTA 1982 3 wins · 11 nominations- Won Best Actress in a Leading Role – Meryl Streep
- Won Best Original Music
- Won Best Sound
- Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role – Jeremy Irons
- Nominated Best Cinematography
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Oscars 1982 5 nominations- Nominated Actress in a Leading Role – Meryl Streep
- Nominated Art Direction
- Nominated Costume Design
- Nominated Film Editing
- Nominated Writing (Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium) – Harold Pinter
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Golden Globes 1982 3 nominations- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Drama
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Meryl Streep
- Nominated Best Screenplay – Harold Pinter
- BAFTA 1981 1 nomination
- Nominated Best Film
The French Lieutenant's Woman Trailers & Videos
3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 featurettes.
- Featurette Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons on THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN
- Featurette Carl Davis on Composing the Theme for THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN
How Well Do You Know The French Lieutenant's Woman?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who plays the role of Charles Smithson?
Cars in The French Lieutenant's Woman
13 cars on screen, including the 1979 Rover 2300 SD1 and the AEC Routemaster.
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1979 Rover 2300 SD1 Important role -
AEC Routemaster Background role -
1973 Datsun Laurel 200L Background role -
1972 Ford Consul Background role
The French Lieutenant's Woman Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “La mujer del teniente francés” and “La donna del tenente francese”.
- Also known as
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- La mujer del teniente francés
- La donna del tenente francese
- Den Franske Løjtnants Kvinde
- La maîtresse du lieutenant francais
- A Mulher do Tenente Francês
- Den franske løytnantens kvinne
- Die Geliebte des französischen Leutnants
- Ranskalaisen luutnantin nainen
- La maîtresse du lieutenant français
- 法国中尉的女人
- A francia hadnagy szeretője
- Женщина французского лейтенанта
+14 more Show fewer
- Η Ερωμένη του Γάλλου Λοχαγού
- אהובת הקצין הצרפתי
- Fransız Teğmeninin Kadını
- Den franske löjtnantens kvinna
- Kochanica Francuza
- Жената на френския лейтенант
- 프랑스 중위의 여자
- 法國中尉的女人
- Francouzova milenka
- フランス軍中尉の女, ფრანგი ლეიტენანტის საყვარელი
- La dona del tinent francès
- ห้วงรัก หวงมายา
- Жінка французького лейтенанта
- A Amante do Tenente Francês
Seen The French Lieutenant's Woman?
The French Lieutenant's Woman FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, the book behind it and awards of The French Lieutenant's Woman, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The French Lieutenant's Woman?
The French Lieutenant's Woman runs 2 hours 4 minutes (124 minutes).
When was The French Lieutenant's Woman released?
The French Lieutenant's Woman was released on October 16, 1981.
Who directed The French Lieutenant's Woman?
The French Lieutenant's Woman was directed by Karel Reisz.
More films by Karel Reisz Who is in the cast of The French Lieutenant's Woman?
The French Lieutenant's Woman stars Jeremy Irons, Meryl Streep and Lynsey Baxter, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The French Lieutenant's Woman make at the box office?
The French Lieutenant's Woman grossed $26.9 million worldwide.
How is The French Lieutenant's Woman rated?
The French Lieutenant's Woman has 64 on Metacritic and 64% on TMDB.
Is The French Lieutenant's Woman based on a book?
Yes. The French Lieutenant's Woman is adapted from The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles.
What awards did The French Lieutenant's Woman win?
The French Lieutenant's Woman won 3 awards from 20 nominations, including Best Actress in a Leading Role at the BAFTA 1982.
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