‘Masterpiece’ 1981 period drama filmed in a beautiful UK seaside town | Films | Entertainment

There are few things better than finding a classic British period drama that makes you want to visit the place where it was filmed straight afterwards. Over the years, many films have used seaside towns and UK beaches as the backdrop for love stories and historical dramas.

But there is one movie from the early 1980s in particular that is still remembered not only for its performances and story, but also for the stunning Dorset location that became a huge part of the film itself. Even now, visitors still travel there to walk the same harbour wall and explore the streets where some of the movie’s most famous scenes were filmed.

The film in question is The French Lieutenant’s Woman, the 1981 romantic drama starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons.

The film was based on John Fowles’ 1969 novel of the same name and directed by Karel Reisz, with a screenplay written by Harold Pinter.

It received five Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Meryl Streep and Best Adapted Screenplay for Pinter.

But one of the biggest stars of the film was arguably Lyme Regis itself.

The historic Dorset seaside town became the main filming location during the summer of 1980, with production crews spending weeks transforming parts of the area back into a Victorian port town.

The famous Cobb harbour wall became the centrepiece of the movie and appeared in many of its most iconic scenes.

One of the most famous images from the film shows Streep’s character Sarah Woodruff standing alone at the end of the Cobb wearing a dark cloak while waves crash around her.

The location remains hugely popular with visitors today, with many recreating the famous pose while visiting Lyme Regis.

Parts of Broad Street and Coombe Street were also transformed for filming, with modern shopfronts hidden to recreate the atmosphere of the 1860s.

Several well-known local buildings were used during filming too, including the Royal Lion Hotel and the Three Cups Hotel.

The Undercliff area west of the town also featured heavily during secret meetings between the two main characters.

Today, the film still holds an impressive 83% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. And those who have already seen it, do not hold back in their praise.

One person said in a review: “Went to Lyme and walked along The Cobb recently and felt inspired to watch this masterpiece movie again.”

Another added: “A masterpiece in writing an adaptation and another flawless performance by Meryl Streep.”

A third wrote: “I actually enjoyed this movie a lot more than I expected to. It’s a little confusing at first, but trust me, it’s amazing! A breathtaking portrayal of how art imitates life.”

More than 40 years after its release, Lyme Regis still proudly celebrates its connection to the film.

The local museum even runs guided film walks showing visitors the exact locations where scenes featuring Streep and Irons were shot.

The French Lieutenant’s Woman can be streamed on Prime Video.