84 Charing Cross Road (1987)

80% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(4,847 ratings)

Helene Hanff's book 84 Charing Cross Road had previously been a TV program and a stage play before it was converted into this 1986 film. The scene is New York, 1949: Anne Bancroft plays a struggling writer and passionate bibliophile, who answers an advertisement from a rare-volumes bookshop at 84… More Helene Hanff's book 84 Charing Cross Road had previously been a TV program and a stage play before it was converted into this 1986 film. The scene is New York, 1949: Anne Bancroft plays a struggling writer and passionate bibliophile, who answers an advertisement from a rare-volumes bookshop at 84 Charing Cross Road in London. Thus begins a two-decade romance by correspondence between Bancroft and Briton Anthony Hopkins, the man in charge of the overseas department of Marks and Company. Though several meetings are arranged, Bancroft and Hopkins never come face to face thanks to mitigating circumstances. But Anne finally makes it to London, and finds that much has changed. 84 Charing Cross Road was produced by Mel Brooks, the husband of star Anne Bancroft. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: David Hugh Jones
Written By: Helene Hanff, James Roose-Evans, Hugh Whitemore
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Feb 13, 1987 Limited
On DVD: May 21, 2002
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

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.
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.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
This wonderful little gem is something of a critic-proof cult item in my house.
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.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
A staid, static movie that wins us over with its outstanding performances and its love of books.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Vividly conveys the magical ways that friendship can open up new worlds of experience and meaning.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
By a miracle of writing, acting and direction, what could have been a deadly moviegoing experience is turned into something very like pure gold.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Hopkins and Dench are wonderful together.

Read all 8 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

lovely intelligent film with two outstanding performances.
Bill C

If you are really into reading and posting reviews on this site you are probably the kind of person who would like this movie. Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft carry on a long term relationship based entirely using there opinions and reviews of books. Even with this limitation it is… More
If you are really into reading and posting reviews on this site you are probably the kind of person who would like this movie. Anthony Hopkins and Anne Bancroft carry on a long term relationship based entirely using there opinions and reviews of books. Even with this limitation it is still some of the best character development set to screen. Bancroft makes the opening play by sending a letter to Hopkins asking him to sell her good cheap books. Hopkins plays a reserved well educated clerk in a second hand book store in postwar London. Bancroft plays outspoken and fairly brash aspiring writer in New York. Hopkins makes selections and Bancroft keeps ordering more books and comments on his selection. The relationship slowly evolves over twenty years leaving there friendship more important than the book crossing the Atlantic.
David S

A nice Sunday afternoon film. Nice to see Hopkins in something before he became a big star (when he still tried to act!). No-one does repressed Englishman better than him and this character ranks with his Remains of the Day, Shadowlands, Howards End and Elephant Man characters.… More
A nice Sunday afternoon film. Nice to see Hopkins in something before he became a big star (when he still tried to act!). No-one does repressed Englishman better than him and this character ranks with his Remains of the Day, Shadowlands, Howards End and Elephant Man characters. Bancroft is great too. It's really a film of two halves. If they ever remake it they they use two directors; one to shoot the London section and the other to shoot the NY section. Would be an interesting experiment.

Cast

            Anne Bancroft as Helene Hanff

            Anthony Hopkins as Frank Doel

            Judi Dench as Nora Doel

            Jean De Baer as Maxine Bellamy

            Maurice Denham as George Martin

            Mercedes Ruehl as Kay

            Eleanor David as Cecily Farr

            Daniel Gerroll as Brian

            Wendy Morgan as Megan Wells

            Ian McNeice as Bill Humphries

            J. Smith-Cameron as Ginny

            Tom Isbell as Ed

            John Bardon as Labour Party Canvasser

            Connie Booth as Lady From Delaware

            Ronn Carroll as Businessman on Plane

            Janet Dale as Joan Todd

            David Davenport as Coronation Party Friend

            Anne Dyson as Mrs. Boulton

            James Eckhouse as Joey the Dentist

            Marty Glickman as Baseball Commentator

            Kevin McClarnon as Cop at Columbia

            Gwen Nelson as Bill's Great Aunt

            Freda Rogers as Coronation Party Friend

            Sam Stoneburner as New York Bookseller

            Tony Todd as Demolition Workman

            Rebecca Bradley as Shela Doel At Age 12

            Kate Napier Brown as Mary Doel At Age 21

            Danielle Burns as Cecily Farr's Daughter

            Rupert Holliday Evans as Coronation Party Friend

            Zoe Hodges as Mary Doel at Age 4

            Charles Lewsen as Print Buyer

            Betty Low as Maxine's Mom

            Michael John McGann as Maxine's Stage Manager

            Roger Ostime as Stately Home Butler

            Bernie Passeltiner as Willie Deli Owner

            Barbara Thorn as Sheila Doel at Age 29
See full cast