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:

Fay Doyle: Whatever you say Pat.
Pat Doyle: [mockingly] 'Whatever you say Pat.' You drive me crazy Fay! Just plain nuts!
Fay Doyle: Whatever you say Pat.

Movie Connections:

Version of Advice to the Lovelorn (1933)

Montgomery Clift in a far reach from 'Red River'

To display his acting prowess, you could not find two more different roles for this excellent actor. Knowing the sadness of his personal life will give you even more perspective into this movie. I am not a soap opera fan, so I can't say how close to sentimental melodrama this gets, but it is saved from 'B-ness' (as in B-movie) by the sensitivity that Montgomery Clift puts into this movie. Having seen Robert Ryan in many war movies, I was not as impressed by his dry, cynical newspaper editor role. Not as routine as John Wayne playing himself (or what he would have LIKED to be) throughout all his movies, but close.

The last scene was well written, as was much of the dialogue. I liked the real sturm-und-drang that Clift's girlfriend has to go through after his lies are confessed to her. To watch Jean Stapleton go from victim to witch was quite interesting, and the plot has some interesting twists.

The suffering in Montgomery Clift's eyes, as he portrays an 'Advice to the Lovelorn' writer who gets too close to his 'clients' was not all acting. An automobile accident left him permanently marred and brought about his early death several years after this movie was made.

You will not erase his haunted eyes from your brain soon. And don't think too long about the issues here: How close can we 'civilized human beings' get to another's suffering without being swept away by it? It will hurt your brain.