The Lonely Guy (1984)

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writers:

Bruce Jay Friedman (book)
Neil Simon (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Please don't turn him down.

Plot:

A writer for a greeting card company learns the true meaning of loneliness when he comes home to find his girlfriend in bed with another man.

Plot Keywords:

Single | Book | Greeting Card | Loneliness | Writer

Cast

Steve Martin	...	Larry Hubbard
Charles Grodin	...	Warren Evans
Judith Ivey	...	Iris
Steve Lawrence	...	Jack Fenwick
Robyn Douglass	...	Danielle
Merv Griffin	...	Himself
Joyce Brothers	...	Herself (as Dr. Joyce Brothers)
Candi Brough	...	Schneider Twin
Randi Brough	...	Schneider Twin
Julie Payne	...	Rental Agent
Madison Arnold	...	Lonely Cop
Roger Robinson	...	Greeting Card Supervisor
Dan Hannafin	...	Park Guard (as Daniel P. Hannafin)
Joan Sweeny	...	Sally, Girl in Blood Bank
Nicholas Mele	...	Maitre D'
Leon Jones	...	Traffic Cop
Richard Delmonte	...	Raul
Leslie Wing	...	Brenda, Girl in Bar
Helen Verbit	...	Woman in Window at Dr. Zook's
Kenneth O'Brien	...	Hold Up Man
Erin Hiller	...	Carol Zall, Girl in Bank
Karyn Harrison	...	Louise - Girl waiting in Bar
Hunt Block	...	Louise's Date - in Bar
Alan Leach	...	Bookstore Man
Ed Beheler	...	Jimmy Carter Look Alike
Jerry Grayson	...	Man Who Gets Shot
Michael Greer	...	Counterman
George Saurel	...	Waiter
Erik Holland	...	Ship's Officer
Hugh Douglas	...	Narrator
Sarah Abrell	...	Allison the Bride
Ken Hixon	...	Guest in Church
Rance Howard	...	Minister
Billy James	...	Bridge Jumper #2
José Martínez	...	Subway Gang Member
Jade Bari	...	Cabbie
Gloria Irizarry	...	Woman at Elevated
Beau Starr	...	Mike - 2nd Cop
Dominic Barlo	...	2nd Hold Up Man
Charles DeVries	...	Ship's Maitre D'
Santos Morales	...	Janitor
Jolina Mitchell-Collins	...	Verna Fenwick (as Jolina Collins)
Lena Pousette	...	Frieda, Jack's Mistress
Charlie Laiken	...	Man on Roof
Steve Hurwitz	...	Man on Roof
Hardy Rauls	...	Man on Roof
Doug Smith	...	Man on Roof
Tom Kubiak	...	Man on Roof
Joanne Dalsass	...	Model at Party
Robina Suwol	...	Girl at Party
Stephanie Segal	...	Agent at Party
George Tyne	...	Director at Party
Tony Giorgio	...	Writer at Party
Eb Lottimer	...	Groom
Dan Moody	...	Spaceman
Jerry S. Tonda	...	We Lu Fung, Oriental
Badja Djola	...	Cave Man
Richard Sarradel	...	Spaceman Lover
Susan Spilker	...	Spacewoman Lover
Matthew Faison	...	Lonely Guy
Martin Beck	...	Lonely Guy
Charles Bouvier	...	Lonely Guy
Leslie Bevis	...	Seven Deadly Sins
Lamya Derval	...	Seven Deadly Sins
Martina Finck	...	Seven Deadly Sins
Martina Fouler	...	Seven Deadly Sins
Jenny Gago	...	Seven Deadly Sins
Margo Kelly	...	Seven Deadly Sins
Marie Laurin	...	Seven Deadly Sins
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bella Jarrett
Loni Anderson	...	Herself (uncredited)
Paul Benedict	...	Dr. Zook (voice) (uncredited)
Andy Garcia	...	(uncredited)
Ray Girardin	...	Henry, Bridge Jumper (uncredited)
Elizabeth Kaitan	...	(uncredited)
Allan Kolman	...	Lonely Ship Passenger (uncredited)
Mike Tremont	...	Single Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Arthur Hiller

Writing credits
Bruce Jay Friedman		(book "The Lonely Guy's Book of Life")
Neil Simon		(screenplay) and
Stan Daniels		(screenplay) and
Ed. Weinberger		(screenplay)

Produced by
C.O. Erickson	....	co-executive producer
Judy Gordon	....	associate producer
Arthur Hiller	....	producer
William E. McEuen	....	executive producer
Dorothy Wilde	....	associate producer
Dorothy Wilde	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper

Film Editing by
Raja Gosnell
William Reynolds

Casting by
Toni Howard
Lynn Stalmaster

Production Design by
James Dowell Vance

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Betsy Cox

Makeup Department
Del Armstrong	....	makeup artist
Judith A. Cory	....	hair stylist
Bron Roylance	....	makeup artist: Loni Anderson

Production Management
C.O. Erickson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan B. Curtiss	....	second assistant director
Jack Roc	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Robert L. Hoyt	....	sound re-recordist (as Robert Hoyt)
Larry Jost	....	sound
Stanley H. Polinsky	....	sound re-recordist
John J. Stephens	....	sound re-recordist
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert G. Willard	....	special effects (as Robert Willard)

Visual Effects by
Bill Taylor	....	matte photography
Albert Whitlock	....	special visual effects

Stunts
Kerrie Cullen	....	stunts
Dean Smith	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bobby Brown	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, New York
Alan R. Disler	....	assistant camera
Bill Roc	....	assistant camera
Robert C. Thomas	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandra Culotta	....	costumer
Dennis Schoonderwoerd	....	costumer
Bruce Walkup	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Mellissa Bretherton	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Ken Hall)
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer (uncredited)

Other crew
Betty Chaplin	....	script supervisor
Devron Conrad	....	stand-in: Steve Martin
Cindy Cullen	....	animal trainer
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
David Oliver	....	title designer
James W. Skotchdopole	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Aspen Film Society
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Australia:M | Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Aspen Film Society

Trivia:

Charles Grodin appeared in this movie without his toupee.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Warren and Larry are standing on the street with their ferns talking the woman in the blue dress with the brown purse passes in their background going from left to right and then passes them again going in the same left to right direction a short time later.

Quotes:

Subway Gang Member:Man you are one bad backwards writer.
Larry Hubbard:Thanks.
[tosses can back]

Movie Connections:

Features Woody's Clip Joint (1964)

Soundtrack:

Don't Call Me Lonely

Grodin Steals the show

The Lonely Guy is a cute comedy; not inspired, but mildly funny in bits. The problem is the script that Martin is required to play too straight a character as the "nice lonely guy". He does a good job, but the script doesn't support him with enough consistently funny situations or dialogue (the big problem with the movie, that much of it comes off as bland. Speaking of bland (or should I say, BLAND), Charles Grodin practically walks away with most of the movies laughs as the Jedi Master of Lonely Guys, Martin's mentor in the world of lonely guys. He does it not because he is much funnier that Martin is, but just by playing the one element he has to work with in a consistent, funny way, while Martin has to struggle with a script that doesn't support him. (Additional problem: As much as I like them, was it really necessary to have Merv Griffin and Joyce Brothers in the film, if they didn't add to the scenes?)

However, if you like Charles Grodin, then this is a must-see film just for his scenes. He proves yet again that the best comedy is found in pain and truthfulness, not zaniness and pratfalls. (His scenes are the only ones I clearly remember, other than one in which Martin seems to watch his own death on t.v.; which I won't spoil for you, if you ever happen to rent it.)

Catch it on cable the next rainy night you can't seem to get a date.

Five stars. (Could have been more with a rewrite).