Willy Russell adapted his own play for this tour de force from Pauline Collins as the bored housewife who spends much of her time at home guzzling wine and talking to the wall before her husband (Bernard Hill) comes home from work for his supper at 6pm prompt! When her friend "Jane" (Alison Steadman) wins an holiday on Mykonos for a fortnight, she invites "Shirley" to accompany her. She initially dithers but luckily…
No one thought she had the courage, the nerve, or the lingerie.
Wondering what has happened to herself, now feeling stagnant and in a rut, Shirley Valentine finds herself regularly talking to the wall while preparing her husband's chips and egg. When her best friend wins a trip-for-two to Greece Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a different light.
Top Cast
Pauline Collins
Shirley Valentine-Bradshaw
Tom Conti
Costas Demitriadis
Julia McKenzie
Gillian
Alison Steadman
Jane
Joanna Lumley
Marjorie Majors
Sylvia Syms
Headmistress
Bernard Hill
Joe Bradshaw
George Costigan
Dougie
Anna Keaveney
Jeanette
Tracie Bennett
Millandra
Ken Sharrock
Sydney
Karen Craig
Thelma
Gareth Jefferson
Brian
Gillian Kearney
Young Shirley
Catherine Duncan
Young Marjorie
Cardew Robinson
Londoner
Reviews
"Shirley Valentine" is a hugely entertaining film populated by richly layered and vividly drawn characters and fortunately it successfully manages to completely depart from its small scale theatrical roots to become a genuine motion picture treat. It essentially covers the same basic themes as "Educating Rita" (1983) and it is just as successful at doing this the second time around. The central characters of Rita…
FAQ about Shirley Valentine
What is Shirley Valentine about?
Wondering what has happened to herself, now feeling stagnant and in a rut, Shirley Valentine finds herself regularly talking to the wall while preparing her husband's chips and egg. When her best friend wins a trip-for-two to Greece Shirley begins to see the world, and herself,…
When was Shirley Valentine released?
Shirley Valentine was released in 1989.
What genres does Shirley Valentine belong to?
Shirley Valentine is categorised as Romance, Comedy.
Who stars in Shirley Valentine?
The cast of Shirley Valentine includes Pauline Collins, Tom Conti, Julia McKenzie, Alison Steadman, Joanna Lumley.