MovieChat Forums > 84 Charing Cross Road (1987) Discussion > I don't get it.

I don't get it.

posted 17 years ago by Anhilius
40 replies | jump to latest

I watch a lot of movies, and I've seen a lot worse, but I've never really felt the same way I did after watching this.

It's not as if it's confusing, but I just wonder what the point of this movie is, or even the book for that matter. Nothing really happens, it's just someone buying books, and then just happens to become friends with the person selling them books. I don't mean there needs to be someone running around killing people, or *beep* exploding, or something like that, but most movies I've seen, actually have something happen.

It's got fairly good acting, and in some scenes, it is entertaining. But overall, as the subject says, I don't get it.

Some insight would be wonderful.

[–] scarf1 17 years ago

And you obviously never will ... !

[–] noveltylibrary 17 years ago

You know, snapping back with a smart *** comment never helps. Haven't you found that out?

[–] ejewett1 10 years ago

Nor have you.....

[–] vizzles 17 years ago

It's about decent human behaviour,nonjudgementle,kind,unselfish.A study of economic/cultural anglo/american history over 12 years.It is fundementally a record of the differing/similar everyday lives between two seperate continents.Hilighting that good people are prevelent throughout the world.Regardles of class,race,creed,accident of birthplace,or whatever other negative issues are brought to the for,be it due to jealousy,ignorance,or some other inadequecy.
Ultimately,it is a warm,informative,intelligent book and film.
You missed out.Big time.I bet you are a 'SEPTIC'.

[–] hopey4 15 years ago

You are absolutely right.
When I watched Portrait of Jenny with my mom as a child, I didn't "get it". She told me that if I didn't "get it" no amount of explaining would help.
Some people just aren't going to understand the subtleties of 84CCR, ever.
And that's ok too! There's a lot of movies I don't get.

[–] bear022013-588-696101 13 years ago

to scarfs comment lol i luved it.

[–] JR541 17 years ago

Something does happen. Some people become very good friends even though they never meet. It show that kind gestures and such can bind people together.

He's taking the knife out of the Cheese!
Do you think he wants some cheese?

[–] ctrock 17 years ago

please see the movie again. it is really touching, and it doesn't have to have something happening every second. go with the emotions of the characters and you might just enjoy it.

[–] babsy_lew 17 years ago

I second that emotion....

[–] DannX68 17 years ago

It's one of the most romantic movies ever, though it doesn't have a love story.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] jaysoon 10 years ago

Its such a wonderfully subtle but also forthright exploration of simple pleasures, small surprises, disappointments, actually lots of action, just not physical Thor vs Loki action, or even Meryl Steep vs Phlllip Seymour Hoffman action.

I had the pleasure to see Shelley Winters mangle this iplay in teh 80s at Elitch Garden Theater in the old elitch Gardens amusement park in Denver (alas, like the bookstore, nomore, moved and changed into Six Flags....a theater that even Fredric March had done summer stock in)

Shelley was all over the map,forgot dialogue, broke the third wall (something like "oh oh , wait a minute i've got it now...") but was endearing.

Anne Bancroft deserved at least an oscar nomination...this is a much better job of acting than Sally Field's PLACES IN THE HEARAT IN 1984, THOUGH Kathleen turner in ROMANCING THE STONE gave a kookylight hearted performance in ROMANCING THE STONE and a searing erotic one as CHyna Blue, cant remember the name of that movie....Anne Bancroft's GARBO TALKS and 84, and especially AGNES OF GOD need to be brought up regarding actresses who became big stars 9THE MIRACLE WORKER, THE GRADUATE), and then doing things like 84 or even the remake with Mel of the old Jack Benney/Carole Lombard Nazi comedy.

84 makes me sigh for a time a little earlier tha my life and Anthony Hopkins shows why ...at least for over a decade plus he was one of the top two or three actors.

[–] schuhj 8 years ago

I spent two years in graduate school reading about England after the War. Forgotten now is how out at the elbows the English people were, and to a degree even the producers did not convey how much her care packages meant to the people at the book store. In his later letters Frank mention how the people in the shop had scattered, many to the far reaches of the Empire, to escape a poverty that was only just beginning to end in the 60s. Ironically, the English in 1969 were less recovered from the war than the Germans. Things were still cheap. I and my wife bought seats in the dress circle at a play that year for under five pounds.

[–] jim32809-1 17 years ago

It is based on a quasi-biographical book by Helene Hanff which contains a series of letters between the author and (mostly) Frank, the bookseller. The book takes us through time as the characters build up a relationship that begins as purely business and develops into a unique friendship. While the passage of time is subtle in the book, it takes on a signifcant role in the movie. While the world around them changes, Helene still writes to Frank ordering books English Literature. So watch the movie again and look for these two things: Character progression and the attention to detail the producers paid to the passage of time. The movie truly looks like it was made over the years instead of all at once.

I could go on about this movie, but I will simply use one word to describe it: "charming".

[–] vinceharris-1 16 years ago

i saw "84 charing cross road" as an ode to letter writing. there was once a time when letter writing was a requirement in english class. it sadly fell by the wayside.
but, that, to me, was a part of what the movie was about; the lost art of letter writing.

vince

[–] mentesobremateria 16 years ago

"The lost art of letter writing" - Well said vinceharris.

84 Charing Cross Road is my favorite book!

[–] Gavno 16 years ago

I would reccomend that you go back to watching ANIMAL HOUSE and PORKIES.

[–] jules915 14 years ago

LOLOLOL....I second this

[–] ckree8 16 years ago

Well, this thread is either helping or not , but here goes, this movie is about the people in it ..told via letters sent between an american author/screenwriter/book lover to a little english bookshop and the development of a friendship that lasted over 20yrs.. its a people movie..about their lives the times they lived in and the love for friends that never met in person..but grew to love and linger through many years of letter writing ..so watch it again..if you still dont get it ..then ppl human study type films arent for you.

[–] jquick99 15 years ago

goodness, how old are you??

i think you do need "someone running around killing people, or *beep* exploding" in order to appreciate a film.

so sad.

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] zurichpoet 15 years ago

It’s fantastic. One scene is seared in my mind. That makes me keep coming back to the movie.

The acting of Hopkins is AMAZING. As he's sitting next to a hospital bed and his friend has died, and he’s trying to express something, but the character can’t, but he does, it’s simply true. It’s stunning in its beautiful honesty.

[–] jules915 14 years ago

YES!!!!

[–] tadeu-br 14 years ago

That's exactly what I was going to say. Either you understand it, or you don't. There is no way to explain that.

[–] jules915 14 years ago

Seriously.....seriously.....????

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] beetiesmom 14 years ago

I agree 100% with you, ohara05! This is still and will always be one of my five favorite films ever. It's just perfection---I'm so glad Mel Brooks bought the rights for his dear wife Ann Bancroft. She was totally into the role of Helene Hanff. The book was terrific (as are all Ms. Hanff's books) and the movie is outstanding. Just an amazing, true story.............

[–] 14 years ago

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