84 Charing Cross Road (DVD, 2002)

A struggling New York writer, a reserved London book dealer, and a 20 year correspondence via letters. A true story.
Anne Bancroft is delightful as the writer Helene Hanff; chain-smoking, gregarious, but (I suspect)lonely, this single lady-of-a-certain-age harbors a passion for English literature. Anthony Hopkins is equally delighful as Frank Doyle, the proper,if somewhat stiff English gentleman who replies to Miss Hanff's inquiries regarding antiquarian books. "I'm just a poor writer..." she begins.
And so starts a wonderful story.
Somehow, magic happens across the Big Pond, as these two literary buffs form an unlikely relationship.
A lovely film for all you Anglophiles. Classic literature. John Donne. Elizabethan love poems. Yeats (as spoken by Hopkins.."Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths..."). A platonic relationship with an edgy hint of romance. And a three hanky ending.
What a great little film.

Anne Bancroft's character loves and appreciates the books she purchases by mail from a rare English bookstore, Her letters to the store manager( Anthony Hopkins) are charmingly American and he takes her correspondence to heart and shares it and eventually others in the bookstore correspond with her also. They write before, during and after WWII. Although they an ocean away, they care for one another, and oops I don't want to tell you the whole story. Rent it or buy it, it's a "keeper", Based on a true story.

I have been looking for this movie for decades. I have now figured out on how to use the internet and this sore has it all!

Knowing the ending of "84 Charing Cross Road" doesn't detract from its enjoyment; in fact it intensifies the emotions as the story leads up to the final scene which is a continuation of the film's opening. Of course, most people purchasing this DVD already know the true story of Helen Hanff who develops a 20 year friendship across the Atlantic with London bookseller Frank Doel.

Hanff (Ann Bancroft), a struggling writer in 1949 New York City, is a somewhat snooty, and extremely passionate, chain smoking booklover, especially fond of original editions of British authors. Discouraged that local bookstores do not stock the titles she is after, Helen answers a magazine ad for rare book dealer Marks & Company, 84 Charing Cross Road, London; inquiring whether they can help her. To her amazement, Doel (Anthony Hopkins) replies by sending her the books in question open account, and at ridiculously low 1949 prices to boot. Thus begins this long term intellectual relationship.

In the ensuing years both parties send each other gifts, including Hanff's care package of hard-to-find (in the UK) foods. Helen's friend who is visiting the shop describes in rich detail the atmosphere and furnishings of Marks & Company. Of course it helps that the viewer sees everything as she describes it, but apparently Hanff has no problem visualizing. This could have been a slow story, but rapidly alternating scenes between New York and London, Hanff's sharp tongue, and the changing times keep things moving.

If you liked the time lapse component of "Same Time Next Year", you'll probably like the way "84" takes us on a 20 year journey. One would expect that Hanff would find a way to visit Marks & Company, but unfortunately emergency dental work wipes out all the money she'd saved for the trip. Perhaps her long delayed voyage to London adds the bittersweet element that makes this movie one to savor.

My only disappointment is that at this time I have not been able to locate a Region 1 Widescreen DVD of the movie. For some unknown reason there are many Region 2 Widescreen editions listed on ebay, but none for the U.S. I am looking forward to this problem being resolved. Until then, make do with the 4:3. This film will appeal to at least two groups: 1, those who have had the experience of longing to visit somewhere distant and, when they finally got there, find only remnants of what they were after; and 2, booklovers everywhere.

Helene Hanff's book of collected letters to and from a London "antiquarian" bookseller is translated beautifully to the screen in this Mel Brooks production. Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins are perfectly cast as the feisty American with a taste for English literature and the staid manager of the bookshop who supplies her with reading material. The supporting cast which includes Ian McNeice and Judi Dench, are all top-notch and help illuminate the characters of the leading actors.

The film provides wonderful snapshots of America and Britain from post-War to the early '60's through the happenings in the lives of the leads, and the soundtrack does much to enhance these vignettes. Friends and family know I will go on and on about this movie. Suffice it to say, it's one of my all-time favorites that I've watched many times and never tire of.

The book jacket of "84 Charing Cross Road" said it is "A transatlantic love affair of twenty years between two people who never met". That says it quite well.

I bought this for my daughter. She loves this beautiful story of a
relationship that developed over the love of books through the exchange
of letters. It is about two people from different countries who never met but
who became the best of friends. Charming story based on their actual
letters!

Actor/producer Mel Brooks bought the rights to this story as a birthday present for his wife, Anne Bancroft. It is a sweet, small, LITERATE story, based on a real-life relationship between a New York City book lover (Bancroft) and a London bookseller (Sir Anthony Hopkins), whose correspondence about rare books developed into a warm, witty relationship lasting more than thirty years. A great, collectible little film for grownups, with superb performances, wonderful writing, and beautiful direction.

After I purchased this item I realized the seller was not using Pay Pal. I sent the seller cash and then waited for the item to be mailed, of course there is a moment of concern that once the money was received the item would never be sent....But happily this was a problemless transation and the item was received in perfect condition. Thank you for a good ebay experience.

Good story if you like slow moving stories. i bought it because is was recommended by a friend. It's very dated, but shows how relationships evolve even when people don't know each other face to face.

I havn't seen it. It was a gift for my sister-in-law. She told me she really enjoyed the movie but couldn't find it anywhere on DVD, but I knew I could thanks to you.

This is a graet movie! Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins make you feel a part of their world. All supporting rolls were perfectly cast. You will want to see it again and again. I am so glad I found it on ebay.

This is one of Anne Bancroft's greatest performances. She plays her role so well you forget it's her and believe she really is Helene Hanf. All book enthusiasts should find this movie right up their alley. It is a true story and one that will touch your heart. It is a movie I will watch over and over again.

This movie is a classic story perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon. I had seen this movie years ago and loved it. I highly recommended it to anyone who would listen. It is a great couples movie, eventhough they are not together the movie shows a relationship that develops over a long time. The story is so strong that anyone could have played the roles, but having Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins was a wonderful bonus.