84 Charing Cross Road - Trivia, Questions and Fun Facts

[discussimdb]

Fan of 84 Charing Cross Road or just want to share your movie knowledge? This topic is dedicated to all trivia and questions related to 84 Charing Cross Road

[elmer]

This movie was the first of two 1980s movies which had numerated titles prefixed by the number "84". The second was 84C MoPic (1989). The 1980s also produced a new version of George Orwell's novel 1984 (1984).

[bernard]

Although claiming to be a true story, at least one source implies that there was a bit of artistic license. Leo Marks, later a screenwriter, was the son of the bookstore's owner, and the head of codes and communication for Britain's special operatives and the underground during World War II, despite being barely old enough for college. In his book, "Between Silk and Cyanide" he says of his father: "He never read the gentle little myth by Helene Hanff; Long before it was published he'd become one himself."

[phyllis]

The setting of James Roose-Evans' 1981 play is, according to the play's introduction: "The New York apartment of Helene Hanff; Marks & Co., bookseller, 84 Charing Cross Road, London. 1949-1971."

[bernard]

The dramatic device of "breaking of the fourth wall" (speaking directly to the camera) was done in an unusual way in this movie, as whenever Helene Hanff (Anne Bancroft) speaks directly into the camera, she is speaking to her correspondent, Frank P. Doel (Sir Anthony Hopkins), and when Doel speaks to the camera, he is speaking to Hanff. This did not originate in the screenplay, but in the stage play.

[jessie]

First British movie of American actress Mercedes Ruehl.

[bernice]

The title of this movie's source book, "84, Charing Cross Road" and this movie's precursor filmed adaptation of it, the televised play Play for Today: 84, Charing Cross Road (1975), were spelled slightly differently to this movie's title, both having a comma between the number "84" and the rest of the title.

[frances]

Star Billing: Anne Bancroft (first), Sir Anthony Hopkins (second), and Dame Judi Dench (third).

[riley]

The movie was produced by Brooksfilms, of which Mel Brooks was Executive Producer of this movie. Anne Bancroft and Brooks were married at the time that this movie was made and released.

[frederick]

The name of the bookstore was "Marks & Co." In 2003, the real-life book shop had become a wine bar, called "All Bar One". There is a plaque on the building commemorating this movie, the bookstore, and Helene Hanff's book "84, Charing Cross Road". The site is where Charing Cross Road crosses Shaftesbury Avenue on the northeast corner of the junction.

[steve]

Of the two actresses to play Helene Hanff in filmed productions, both have been named Anne. Anne Bancroft in this movie, and Anne Jackson in Play for Today: 84, Charing Cross Road (1975).

[jessica]

Hugh Whitemore wrote the screenplay for this theatrical movie adaptation of Helene Hanff's book "84, Charing Cross Road", as well as writing the original televised play for Play for Today: 84, Charing Cross Road (1975).

[harry]

Anne Bancroft and Sir Anthony Hopkins appeared in The Elephant Man (1980), another movie based on a true story. Both movies were produced by Brooksfilms, Mel Brooks' production company.

[christina]

The "84, Charing Cross Road" story has been made into five media forms: a book, a television movie, this theatrical movie, a stage play, and a radio production.

[richard]

This movie was filmed during March, April, May, and June 1986.

[ivan]

James Roose-Evans adapted his 1981 "84, Charing Cross Road" play for BBC Radio 4 production. The show starred Gillian Anderson and Denis Lawson, and debuted on December 25, 2007.

[alyssa]

For the second time in her career, Anne Bancroft shared top billing with a co-star (Sir Anthony Hopkins) with whom she never appeared on-screen together in a single scene. Previously, Bancroft shared top billing, but no scenes together, with Sidney Poitier in The Slender Thread (1965).

[albert]

The amount of time that Helene Hanff (Anne Bancroft) and Frank P. Doel (Sir Anthony Hopkins) corresponded, was nineteen years (1949 to 1968).

[carl]

This movie was released six years after it source stage play had been first performed. The play was based on Helene Hanff's 1970 book.

[wesley]

The history of the Marks & Co. bookstore is briefly outlined on their website. It states: "Benjamin Marks and Mark Cohen began bookselling in 1904, when they were both employed by the firm of Henry Sotheran, Ltd., an old established bookseller. Sotheran's are generally acknowledged as being the 'training school' for many of the leading booksellers of the twentieth century. When they decided to go into business together, Mark Cohen reluctantly agreed to his partner's suggestion that the firm be called Marks & Co., rather than Marks and Cohen, and the pair set up shop on Old Compton Street before moving first to No. 108 and then 106 Charing Cross Road. The façade of 108 Charing Cross Road has changed a great deal since the 1920s, but some things remain the same. '108' is still a book shop. The move to the shop next door came about, when Marks & Co. acquired the business of George W. Davis, who traded from No. 106. Davis was an acknowledged expert on the works of Charles Dickens, and with the purchase of this firm, Marks & Co. found themselves with possibly the best stock of Dickensia in London. In 1928, probably as part of the takeover deal, Marks & Co. published a short bibliography of the The Pickwick Papers written by Davis. The shop now had two areas of specialization the other being that of Freemasonry and the Occult, and indeed a whole floor would be devoted to these subjects when the business moved to No. 84. In addition, Marks & Co. held a good stock of general books, plus bound sets of popular authors, topography, natural history, and modern first editions."