The French Lieutenant's Woman poster

The French Lieutenant's Woman(1981)

2h 4mDrama, Romance, HistoryEnglish
6.5/10
243 user ratings

She was lost from the moment she saw him.

Overview

In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.

Director

Karel Reisz

Studio

Juniper Films

Revenue

$3M

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Cast

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

as Sarah / Anna

Jeremy Irons

Jeremy Irons

as Charles Henry Smithson / Mike

Hilton McRae

Hilton McRae

as Sam

Lynsey Baxter

Lynsey Baxter

as Ernestina

Emily Morgan

Emily Morgan

as Mary

Penelope Wilton

Penelope Wilton

as Sonia

Jean Faulds

as Cook

Charlotte Mitchell

Charlotte Mitchell

as Mrs. Tranter

Peter Vaughan

Peter Vaughan

as Mr. Freeman

Colin Jeavons

Colin Jeavons

as Vicar

Liz Smith

Liz Smith

as Mrs. Fairley

Patience Collier

Patience Collier

as Mrs. Poulteney

Where to Watch

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Movie Facts

Release Year

1981

Runtime

2h 4m

Language

English

Rating

6.5 / 10

Box Office

$3M

Production Companies

Juniper Films

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Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch The French Lieutenant's Woman?

Check the "Where to Watch" section above for current streaming platforms, rental options, and purchase links for The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981).

What is The French Lieutenant's Woman about?

In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.

Who directed The French Lieutenant's Woman?

The French Lieutenant's Woman was directed by Karel Reisz and released in 1981. It is a drama, romance, history film.

How long is The French Lieutenant's Woman?

The French Lieutenant's Woman has a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes (124 minutes total).

Who stars in The French Lieutenant's Woman?

The cast of The French Lieutenant's Woman includes Meryl Streep as Sarah / Anna, Jeremy Irons as Charles Henry Smithson / Mike, Hilton McRae as Sam, Lynsey Baxter as Ernestina, Emily Morgan as Mary and more.

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