Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Shirley Valentine (1989 Lewis Gilbert)

Can't argue with this. Willy Russell also wrote the music, though Marvin Hamlisch wrote Patti Austin's title song (lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman), Stravinsky's 'Firebird' gets a look in, and there's some rather lovely (but out of place) flamenco (uncredited) and a dash of Greek music besides.

Should mention Gillian Kearney as the young Shirley (Sylvia Syms is the headmistress).



Like the rather open-ended ending.

Pauline Collins quite rightly won the BAFTA but lost the Oscar to Jessica Tandy (Driving Miss Daisy). Russell writes for / about women well.

Russell, originally a hairdresser, then a teacher, has lately written a novel ('The Wrong Boy' in 2000), had one of his plays adapted as a musical ('Our Day Out') and has had a couple of exhibitions of paintings.

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