The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)

Sentimental story centers around a deaf-mute, Singer, and Mick, a teenager who lives in the house where he rents a room. Mick and Singer become friends, though they are separated by ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Ellis Miller

Writers:

Carson McCullers (novel), Thomas C. Ryan (screenplay)

Stars:

Alan Arkin, Sondra Locke, Laurinda Barrett

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Arkin	...	John Singer
Sondra Locke	...	Mick
Laurinda Barrett	...	Mrs. Kelly
Stacy Keach	...	Blount (as Stacy Keach Jr.)
Chuck McCann	...	Spiros Antonapoulos
Biff McGuire	...	Mr. Kelly
Percy Rodrigues	...	Doctor Copeland
Cicely Tyson	...	Portia
Jackie Marlowe	...	Bubber
Johnny Popwell	...	Willie
Wayne Smith	...	Harry
Peter Mamakos	...	Spirmonedes
John O'Leary	...	Beaudine
Hubert Harper	...	Brannon
Sherri Vise	...	Delores

Storyline

Sentimental story centers around a deaf-mute, Singer, and Mick, a teenager who lives in the house where he rents a room. Mick and Singer become friends, though they are separated by Singer's lack of communication ability and Mick's struggle with teenage traumas. The lives of the people Singer touches are varied, linked only by their friendship with Singer. His friends include a deaf-mute, a drunk, a and a doctor. Singer does his best to help those around him solve their problems, but who is there to help him solve his own?

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Plot Keywords:

deaf | southern literature | deafness | claim in title | based on novel

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Taglines:

...and from this man who could not speak or hear, the girl heard many things.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English American Sign Language

Release Date:

31 July 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Das Herz ist ein einsamer Jäger

Filming Locations:

Selma, Alabama, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Brothers/Seven Arts

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Strick dropped out of the film as director early in the production and was replaced by Robert Ellis Miller.

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Goofs

Carnival is supposedly taking place on a warm summer night judging from characters' lightweight costumes but actors' frosty breath can be seen in a number of shots.

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Connections

Referenced in Mork & Mindy: The Honeymoon (1981)

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Soundtracks

"I Can't Afford to Let You Go"
Written by Dave Grusin and Hermine Hilton
Performed by Mac Davis (as Scott Davis)

User Reviews

A Message To All Of Us

This is, as promoted, simply a nice story about a really good guy: a deaf mute who helps some people and, in the end, desperately needed someone to help him.

Alan Arkin is memorable as the deaf mute and Sondra Locke, in her first screen role, also shines as the second lead. A pity Locke was never given roles this meaty since then. Percy Rodriguez also is memorable here.

Since this is good storytelling, from a best-selling book by Carson McCullers, all the characters here stand out. It's not a fast-moving film yet it is an involving story in which the viewer winds up caring about these people. Yes, the ending is sad and shocking but, in this case, a good ending because it makes you reflect more on what perhaps you and I neglect to do: to remember that everyone needs encouragement from time to time, even the encouragers.

This movie a throwback to some of the nice films of the 1940s, except that, despite being rated "G," there were several instances of profanity in here, including one usage of the Lord's name in vain. Still one for the whole family.