Shirley Valentine

1989
15
1h 48m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

9.3K

YOUR RATING

Pauline Collins in Shirley Valentine (1989)

Shirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that her husband doesn't even recognize her.

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Comedy Drama Romance

Shirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that ... Read allShirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that her husband doesn't even recognize her.Shirley is a 42-year-old bored Liverpudlian housewife who takes a holiday trip to Greece and meets a local man who bolsters her self-confidence. She evolves and transforms to the point that her husband doesn't even recognize her.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

9.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 4 wins & 9 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 2:42

Trailer

Photos29

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9:57

Storyline

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Trivia
The name of the exotic Greek locale in Mykonos made famous by this movie is Agios Ioannis Beach situated at Agios Ioannis Bay. The location has been nick-named the "Shirley Valentine Beach".

Goofs
In the US version of the film, when Gillian encounters Shirley choosing underwear for her holiday the phrase "garter belt" is dubbed over the words "suspender belt".

Quotes
Shirley Valentine: I have allowed myself to lead this little life, when inside me there was so much more. And it's all gone unused. And now it never will be. Why do we get all this life if we don't ever use it? Why do we get all these feelings and dreams and hopes if we don't ever use them?

Alternate versions
When the film received its British terrestrial television debut, the BBC edited the famous "You afraid I want to try and make f*** with you" exchange between Costas and Shirley, substituting the profanity for the word "love" and effectively ruining one of the funniest moments in the film (Dougie's reaction to the juicy dialogue). Several people complained, and the next time the BBC showed the film, the bad language was left intact.

Connections
Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: Sea of Love/True Love/The Big Picture/Shirley Valentine/The Rachel Papers (1989)

Soundtracks
The Girl Who Used to Be Me
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman
Performed by Patti Austin
Arranged by David Paich

User reviews64

Featured review

8/10

The greatest journey leads us to ourselves

Shirley had lost herself in the humdrum lifestyle of a housewife with kids grown and an indifferent husband stuck in his own boring routine. She strikes out on a vacation to Greece to get in touch with the girl she once was. The show worked better as a theatre piece - as a one woman show. Here it gets cluttered up with a lot of characters and Shirley's asides to the camera do not always work. Pauline Collins is as great in the role as she was on stage. Greek men seeing this must cringe at the Tom Conte caricature of a Greek lover. I rated it an 8 for Pauline's performance and the music.