Women in Love (1969)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Ken Russell

Writers:

Larry Kramer (writer)
D.H. Lawrence (novel)

Release Date:

25 March 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The relationship between four sensual people is limited: They must find a new way.

Plot:

The battle of the sexes and relationships among the elite of Britian's industrial Midlands in the 1920s...

Plot Keywords:

Sculptress | Naked Gladiator | Homoeroticism | Outdoor Love Scene | Male Full Frontal Nudity

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Alan Bates	...	Rupert Birkin
Oliver Reed	...	Gerald Crich
Glenda Jackson	...	Gudrun Brangwen
Jennie Linden	...	Ursula Brangwen
Eleanor Bron	...	Hermione Roddice
Alan Webb	...	Thomas Crich
Vladek Sheybal	...	Loerke
Catherine Willmer	...	Mrs. Crich
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Winifred Crich (as Sarah Nicholls)
Sharon Gurney	...	Laura Crich
Christopher Gable	...	Tibby Lupton
Michael Gough	...	Tom Brangwen
Norma Shebbeare	...	Mrs. Brangwen
Nike Arrighi	...	Contessa
James Laurenson	...	Minister

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Norway:15 (TV rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | Germany:12 (2004) | Portugal:M/18 | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2004) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:R | West Germany:18 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Bedlington Colliery, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Brandywine Productions

Trivia:

The nude wrestling scene posed problems for UK censor John Trevelyan, and the film was only passed after Ken Russell made some edits to the original print to reduce full-length shots of Rupert and Gerald standing motionless before the wrestling begins and to darken shots of sunlight streaming into the room. After the edits were made, the film was granted an uncut 'X' certificate.

Quotes:

Gudrun Brangwen: [having an orgasm] Oh, my God, Gerald! Shall I die?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007) (TV)

You'll love Women in Love!

One of the best literary adaptations ever to grace the screen this wonderful movie does justice to Lawrence's novel but more importantly to his vision. The cast is magical bringing to life Lawrence's characters at perfect pitch. Alan Bates IS D. H. Lawrence/ Rupert Birkin and Oliver Reed, Jennie Linden and Glenda Jackson, who won an Oscar for her role, are superb. The script is excellent and draws on Lawrence's writings in addition to titled novel. For instance the scene where they are having lunch in the garden and Rupert (Bates) expounds on the fig fruit is actually taken from a poem by Lawrence called The Fig. It is little touches like this that really show the research and respect that went in to the adaptation. I don't know of a braver writer of relationships then Lawrence and this film is unflinching in its portrayal of every kind.