Tom & Viv Movie Review 1994

American T.S. Eliot (Dafoe) is an Oxford student in 1914 when he meets the moody, monied Vivien Haigh-Wood (Richardson). After a whirlwind courtship, they marry--disastrously. Eliot begins to establish himself as a poet, while Vivien serves as muse/typist and unsuccessfully battles her misdiagnosed illnesses with too much drinking and drugs, as well as embarrassing public scenes. As Eliot gains success, he increasingly distances himself from the unhappy Viv, until finally committing her to an asylum. Dafoe is fine as the chilly, withdrawn poet but Richardson steals the film as his flamboyant, lost wife. Based on the play by Michael Hastings, who co-wrote the screenplay.

Distribution

Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-1120, Toll-free: 800-723-4763, URL: http://www.bvhe.com

Available on VHS
Running time 115 minutes.
Originally from British.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Biopics: Writers, Marriage, Poetry, Adapted from a Play, Period Piece: 20th Century, Writers

Screenplay

Michael Hastings, Adrian Hodges

Cast

Willem Dafoe, Miranda Richardson, Rosemary Harris, Tim Dutton, Nickolas Grace, Philip Locke, Clare Holman, Joanna McCallum

Director

Brian Gilbert

Music

Debbie Wiseman

Producer

Marc Samuelson, Peter Samuelson, Harvey Kass, III Miles A. Copeland, Paul Colichman, I.R.S. World Media, Miramax

Awards

Natl. Bd. of Review 1994: Actress (Richardson), Support. Actress (Harris).