Lonelyhearts (1958)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Vincent J. Donehue

Writers:

Dore Schary (writer)
Howard Teichmann (play)

Release Date:

1958 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Film-Noir

Tagline:

"SOME WIVES CHEAT BECAUSE THEIR HUSBANDS DO...AND SOME BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST NO GOOD!" (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Eager to land a journalistic position, Adam White goes to work as an advice-giving newspaper columnist...

Plot Keywords:

Columnist | Newspaper Man | Lonely Hearts | Based On Novel | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Montgomery Clift	...	Adam White
Robert Ryan	...	William Shrike
Myrna Loy	...	Florence Shrike
Dolores Hart	...	Justy Sargeant
Maureen Stapleton	...	Fay Doyle
Jackie Coogan	...	Ned Gates
Mike Kellin	...	Frank Goldsmith
Onslow Stevens	...	Mr. Lassiter
Frank Maxwell	...	Pat Doyle
Frank Overton	...	Mr. Sargeant
John Gallaudet	...	Johnny, Bartender
Don Washbrook	...	Don Sargeant
Johnny Washburn	...	Johnny Sargeant (as John Washbrook)
J.B. Welch	...	Charlie
Mary Alan Hokanson	...	Edna

Also Known As:

Miss Lonelyheart

Runtime:

100 min | 103 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Company:

Schary Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: In opening scene, Adam orders ginger ale "on the rocks" - which arrives with one minuscule cube that disappears and materializes from shot to shot.

Quotes:

Adam White, nee Lassiter: Well, uh...
Fay Doyle: Well, say something nice to me.
[he remains quiet]
Fay Doyle: Goodbye kiss, maybe?
[he remains still]
Fay Doyle: You're not a very appreciative fellow. Love 'em and leave 'em, is that it?
Adam White, nee Lassiter: Mrs. Doyle, I didn't call you...
Fay Doyle: All right, what did you call me up for? Who are you kidding? Listen, you wanted a sad story, you heard a sad story! You also wanted some action!
Adam White, nee Lassiter: You're right.
Fay Doyle: You're damn right I'm right!

Movie Connections:

Version of Advice to the Lovelorn (1933)

Lonelyhearts- Something Even Beyond Dear Abbey **1/2

This film is based on the play "Miss Lonelyhearts."

Montgomery Clift, the brooding loner of many films, is at it again as a man who is hiding a terrible secret from his fiancée-his father killed his mother when he was age 3 and is prison for this crime.

A chance meeting with Myrna Loy leads Clift to a job as a newspaper writer writing an advice column to people in difficulty.

A much older looking Ryan portrays a cynical newspaper head who never forgave his wife, Myrna Loy, for an affair that she had 10 years ago. Loy's character is never fully realized in that it's not allowed to develop in the film. She gives a good performance but it seems as if she is cut off.

Maureen Stapleton makes a wonderful impression in her first movie and received an Oscar nomination as best supporting actress for it. She is a mentally ill woman who meets up with Clift and her story telling leads to a near tragedy. She makes the most of the 3 scenes she is in. Her performance sets the stage for the career that was ahead of her-a troubled woman seeking understanding in a world beyond her.

Delores Hart portrays Clift's understanding girlfriend. Miss Hart, who abandoned Hollywood in the early 1960s to become a nun, shows sympathy in the role of almost being in the wrong place at the wrong time as well.

An interesting film showing that we can't necessarily laugh at the predicaments of all people.