Lonelyhearts (1958)

Eager to land a journalistic position, Adam White goes to work as an advice-giving newspaper columnist. His editor, Shrike, takes pleasure in browbeating his alcoholic wife Florence for her... See full summary »

Director:

Vincent J. Donehue

Writers:

Dore Schary, Howard Teichmann (play),

Stars:

Montgomery Clift, Robert Ryan, Myrna Loy

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Washbrook	...	Johnny Sargeant (as John Washbrook)
JB Welch	...	Charlie
Mary Alan Hokanson	...	Edna

Storyline

Eager to land a journalistic position, Adam White goes to work as an advice-giving newspaper columnist. His editor, Shrike, takes pleasure in browbeating his alcoholic wife Florence for her past adultery, and assigning his employees journalistic jobs for which they have little aptitude or interest. Shrike goads Adam into meeting one of his correspondents, Fay Doyle, a teary, self-pitying woman who makes a play for him. Adam is torn between his loyalty to the newspaper and his girl Justy.

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Plot Keywords:

columnist | newspaper man | lonely hearts | based on novel | based on play

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Film-Noir

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1958 (USA)

Also Known As:

Miss Lonelyheart

Filming Locations:

Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dore Schary Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min 103 min (TCM print)

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Goofs

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

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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.

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Connections

Version of American Playhouse: Miss Lonelyhearts (1983)

User Reviews

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.