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84 Charing Cross Road

37 replies

StepAwayFromCake · 28/07/2017 17:23

Re-reading for the millionth time, after a gap of about 10y. Still love it. Still moves me. Still choke up when I read the letter telling of his death. Still feel HH's thrill as she explores London - my city.

I've never dared to watch the film with Anne Bancroft and Anthony Hopkins. How could it possibly match up to my visualisation? But every time I wonder...shall I...should I try it...maybe it will add to my pleasure?

I can totally see Anne Bancroft as Helene Hanff, but Anthony Hopkins isn't 'my' Frank Doel. OTOH, AH is a good actor. And how can you ruin a story where virtually nothing happens?

What do you think? Should I watch the film? How true is it to the book?

OP posts:
Original poster
StepAwayFromCake · 06/08/2017 14:17

Thanks Staying - I've just ordered Q's Legacy Grin

What triggered me to re-read 84CCR was coming across a volume of Q in a charity shop! I opened it at random, purely because of HH, and was hooked.

My copy of 84CCR includes The Duchess of Bloomsbury, so I've never read one without the other. They so obviously complement each other that I think one would be incomplete without the other.

No, I haven't watched the film. TBH their voices are so clear in my head that I don't think I ever will. Besides, it wasn't IMO a love affair. (Not with each other, at least. A shared passion, perhaps.) It was an intense and trusting friendship, and I would hate to see that cheapened.

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 06/08/2017 13:13

Helene Hanff wrote other books too - including one about visiting London. There's Q's Legacy, Underfoot in Showbusiness and Apple of my Eye.

southeastdweller · 06/08/2017 11:56

Did you watch it? I love both the book and the film.

HemiDemiSemiquaver · 28/07/2017 21:48

I love the book.

i can't remember if I've seen the film, but I have seen a couple of versions of the play. The first version in particular made such an obvious deal out of the love affair between them that it was really disappointing. It's the subtlety of it being an intense friendship that really was a kind of love, in the book, that was so beautiful. Somehow it cheapened it to make it so blatant in the play.

BestIsWest · 28/07/2017 21:48

I remember AB appearing on Wogan to publicise 84 CCR. He always said it was his worst ever interview. Never watched the film though and she doesn't fit my image of Helene Hanff either.

Book is lovely.

Floggingmolly · 28/07/2017 21:39

Book is definitely better.

ozymandiusking · 28/07/2017 21:37

I haven't read the book, Certainly one to go on my list!
But, I love the film. Please be brave and give it a try.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 28/07/2017 21:32

Very true! The film is usually only about a fiver on Amazon, so maybe worth a shot? For me though, it's a long, long way from the loveliness of the book though.

Original poster
StepAwayFromCake · 28/07/2017 21:22

Well, she does say in the book that she can't come to England because all her money is going on capping all her teeth!

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 28/07/2017 20:24

She had a very scary smile - as if wearing false teeth made of picket fences.

Original poster
StepAwayFromCake · 28/07/2017 18:46

Interesting that you see them the other way around to me.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 28/07/2017 17:43

The book is gorgeous but I hated the film. Hopkins is okay but I couldn't stand Anne B.

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