Charly (1968)

An intellectually disabled man undergoes an experiment that gives him the intelligence of a genius.

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

Daniel Keyes (novel), Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)

Stars:

Cliff Robertson, Claire Bloom, Lilia Skala

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Cliff Robertson	...	Charly
Claire Bloom	...	Alice
Lilia Skala	...	Dr. Straus
Leon Janney	...	Dr. Nemur
Ruth White	...	Mrs. Apple
Dick Van Patten	...	Bert (as Richard Van Patten)
Edward McNally	...	Gimpy (as Skipper McNally)
Barney Martin	...	Hank
William Dwyer	...	Joey
Dan Morgan	...	Paddy

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, and he is the subject of cruel pranks at the bakery where he does minor janitorial work. His teacher, Mrs. Kinnian, enrolls Charly in a clinical study where he is observed by a surgeon and a psychologist who have Charly "race" a mouse named Algernon, solving mazes. Algernon is usually the winner, thanks to an experiment involving brain proteins that greatly raised his intelligence. The experiment proceeds with surgery on Charly, who at first does not seem affected. However, he quickly becomes more logically advanced, soon becoming a pure genius. Emotional and intra-personal consequences are involved as Charly and his teacher become increasingly attached to one another. But when Charly gradually suspects the consequences of the experiment, he struggles with whether or not the procedure was a good idea.

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Plot Keywords:

experiment | mouse | mental retardation | enhanced intelligence | genius | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

M

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anne Heywood was first announced for the Claire Bloom part.

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Goofs

When Charly is riding the tour bus past Boston University, the Marsh Chapel on the campus is twice seen through the windows as the bus passes it.

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Quotes

Charly Gordon: What's enough love?
Alice Kinnian: Always a little more than anyone ever gets.

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Crazy Credits

The title appears onscreen as if scrawled by a child, with the "R" backwards.

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Connections

Version of Flowers for Algernon (2000)

User Reviews

You will never ever forget this movie

I saw this movie on TV when I was a child and while I don't remember every single plot detail, overall it made a lasting impression on me. So much so that I have been determined all these years to try and see this movie again.

I stumbled across the movie on TV and I clearly remember the highly emotional impact it made on me.

Thanks to IMDb I was able to keep searching for the title as I could best remember it and was thrilled when I discovered it here.

A truly stunning memorable movie - I only wish I could get it on DVD. Highly recommended.

When I think of all the dross I have watched over the years that is so forgettable, it is wonderful to return and discover a movie that captivate me so long ago and discover that I am not alone in rating it 10 out of 10!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon

Filming Locations:

Paul Revere Mall, North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$15,826,800

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$18,530,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Selmur Productions, Robertson and Associates, ABC Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White (fantasy sequence) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2:39 : 1