Tom & Viv

Tom & Viv is a 1994 historical drama film directed by Brian Gilbert, based on the 1984 play of the same name by British playwright Michael Hastings about the early love life of American poet T. S. Eliot. The film stars Willem Dafoe, Miranda Richardson, Rosemary Harris, Tim Dutton, and Nickolas Grace.

Premise

The film tells the story of the relationship between T. S. Eliot and his first wife, Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot. They were married in 1915 after a brief courtship and, although they separated in 1933, they never divorced.

Cast

• Willem Dafoe ... T. S. Eliot
• Miranda Richardson ... Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot
• Rosemary Harris ... Rose Robinson Haigh-Wood
• Tim Dutton ... Maurice Haigh-Wood
• Nickolas Grace ... Bertrand Russell
• Geoffrey Bayldon ... Harwent
• Clare Holman ... Louise Purdon
• Philip Locke ... Charles Haigh-Wood
• Joanna McCallum ... Virginia Woolf
• Joseph O'Conor ... Bishop of Oxford
• John Savident ... Sir Frederick Lamb
• Michael Attwell ... W. I. Janes
• Sharon Bower ... Secretary
• Linda Spurrier.... Edith Sitwell
• Roberta Taylor ... Ottoline Morrell
• Christopher Baines ... Verger
• Anna Chancellor ... Woman
• John Clegg ... Second Man
• James Greene ... Dr. Cryiax
• Simon McBurney ... Dr. Reginald Miller

Reception

The film received mixed reviews. It holds a 36% approval rating on review aggregate Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 5.20/10. Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly praised the performances, but gave the film a B−, saying '[it] is the kind of sodden, tasteful, here-are-a-few-nasty-warts-to-chew-on biography that raises as many dramatic questions as it answers.' Derek Elley of Variety admired the film's artistic aspirations and production values, but called it, 'a handsomely appointed but overly starchy love story that attains real clout only in the final reel.'

Awards

The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Miranda Richardson) and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Rosemary Harris).

Year-end lists

• 9th – National Board of Review

References

External links

• Tom & Viv at IMDb
• Tom & Viv at Rotten Tomatoes
• Tom & Viv at AllMovie

1. Tom & Viv (play)
2. Miranda Richardson
3. Rosemary Harris
4. Tim Dutton
5. Wilde (film)
6. John Clegg (actor)
7. Willem Dafoe filmography
8. Vivienne Haigh-Wood Eliot
9. Brian Gilbert (director)
10. Will Keen
11. 67th Academy Awards
12. Roberta Taylor
13. Viv Albertine
14. Joanna McCallum
15. List of Miranda Richardson performances
16. National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
17. Julie Covington
18. Willem Dafoe
19. Clare Holman
20. Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress