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Charly (1968)

 -  Drama | Sci-Fi  -  23 September 1968 (USA)
7.0
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Ratings: 7.0/10 from 3,709 users  
Reviews: 52 user | 27 critic

A retarded man undergoes an experiment that gives him the intelligence of a genius.

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Writers:

(novel), (screenplay)
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Title: Charly (1968)

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
...
...
...
Dr. Anna Straus
Leon Janney ...
Dr. Richard Nemur
...
Mrs. Apple
...
Bert (as Richard Van Patten)
Edward McNally ...
Gimpy (as Skipper McNally)
...
Hank
William Dwyer ...
Joey
Dan Morgan ...
Paddy
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Storyline

Charly is an adult male with a cognitive disability struggling to survive in the modern world. His frequent attempts at learning, reading, and writing prove difficult. His teacher, Miss Kinian, takes Charly to the clinic where he is observed by doctors who have Charly "race" a mouse, Algernon. Algernon is usually the winner thanks to an experiment that greatly raised his intelligence. This experiment is given to Charly, who at first does not seem affected. However, he becomes more logically advanced, eventually becoming a pure genius. Emotional and intra-personal consequences are involved when Charly learns the truth of the experiment, and struggles with whether or not the procedure was a good idea. Written by David Landers <dml@gwis.com>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

The Poignant Incredible Story of A Man Whose Two Worlds Collide! See more »

Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

23 September 1968 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

| (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The film is based on a one-act play called, "Flowers for Algernon," Algernon being the laboratory testing rat the brain surgery is tried on first. See more »

Goofs

When Charley is talking to Mrs. Kinnian outside the building for his night class he is wearing a gold vest. When the camera cuts back to him after Mrs. Kinnian enters her car, he is wearing a blue vest. See more »

Quotes

Charly Gordon: Say, Miss Kinnian... where's Mr. Kinnian?
Alice Kinnian: He died, Charly.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Film Geek (2005) See more »

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User Reviews

excellent sci-fi film
7 September 2005 | by (Portland, Oregon US) – See all my reviews

Charly is a very touching sci-fi film about a retarded man Charly Gordon (Cliff Robertson) who can barely perform the menial job of sweeping up in a bakery and is the continual butt of jokes and ridicule by the bakers. He is chosen to participate in an experiment and is given treatments to boost his IQ. Alice Kinninan (Claire Bloom) plays one of the scientists who helps Charly to learn. Charly is based on the story Flowers For Algernon and the screenplay was by Stirling Silliphant (In The Heat of the Night.) Cliff Robertson won a best actor Oscar for Charly. The film is intelligent, poignant, and extremely moving. You'll need a box a Kleenex with your popcorn for this one.


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