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IMDbPro

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

  • 19681968
  • GG
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
Trailer for this film based on the novel
Play trailer2:59
1 Video
17 Photos
  • Drama
When deaf-mute Singer moves to a new town to be near his hospitalized friend, he makes an indelible impression on the lives of those around him.When deaf-mute Singer moves to a new town to be near his hospitalized friend, he makes an indelible impression on the lives of those around him.When deaf-mute Singer moves to a new town to be near his hospitalized friend, he makes an indelible impression on the lives of those around him.
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Ellis Miller
  • Writers
    • Carson McCullers(from the novel by)
    • Thomas C. Ryan(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Alan Arkin
    • Sondra Locke
    • Chuck McCann
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Ellis Miller
  • Writers
    • Carson McCullers(from the novel by)
    • Thomas C. Ryan(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Alan Arkin
    • Sondra Locke
    • Chuck McCann
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 61User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 3 wins & 11 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
    Trailer 2:59
    The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter

    Photos17

    Alan Arkin and Sondra Locke in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    Cicely Tyson and Miles Davis at an event for The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    Sondra Locke in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    Alan Arkin and Sondra Locke in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    Sondra Locke and Biff McGuire in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    Alan Arkin and Sondra Locke in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    Sondra Locke and Sherri Vise in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)
    Alan Arkin and Sondra Locke in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Singeras Singer
    Sondra Locke
    Sondra Locke
    • Mickas Mick
    Chuck McCann
    Chuck McCann
    • Antonapoulosas Antonapoulos
    Peter Mamakos
    Peter Mamakos
    • Spirmonedesas Spirmonedes
    John O'Leary
    • Beaudineas Beaudine
    Biff McGuire
    Biff McGuire
    • Mr. Kellyas Mr. Kelly
    Jackie Marlowe
    • Bubberas Bubber
    Laurinda Barrett
    • Mrs. Kellyas Mrs. Kelly
    Robbie Barnes
    • Ralphas Ralph
    Wayne Smith
    • Harryas Harry
    Richard Fingar
    • Suckeras Sucker
    Sherri Vise
    • Deloresas Delores
    Gavin Paulin
    • Spareribsas Spareribs
    Percy Rodrigues
    Percy Rodrigues
    • Dr. Copelandas Dr. Copeland
    • (as Percy Rodriguez)
    Cicely Tyson
    Cicely Tyson
    • Portiaas Portia
    Johnny Popwell
    • Willieas Willie
    Horace Oates Jr.
    • Horace Oates Jr.as Horace Oates Jr.
    Stacy Keach
    Stacy Keach
    • Blountas Blount
    • (as Stacy Keach Jr.)
    • Director
      • Robert Ellis Miller
    • Writers
      • Carson McCullers(from the novel by)
      • Thomas C. Ryan(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      To conceal her age, Sondra Locke falsified her birth year more times than such notorieties as Joan Crawford, Mae West or Zsa Zsa Gabor. When Heart was being made in 1967, the late actress (born Sandra Smith in May 1944) was 23 years old, but an international press release said she was 17. Nashville Tennessean theater critic Clara Hieronymus called her out on the lie almost right away, but it took decades for the mass media to catch on. At the time of the movie's 1968 premiere, Locke claimed to be 21 but was in fact 24. While promoting The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) eight years later, the then 32-year-old gave her age as 20. Various news outlets wrongly reported Locke as being 29 in 1978 (when she was 34); 26 in 1979 (35 then); and 30 in 1980 (actually 36). Her real age was finally confirmed by her maternal half-brother, Donald Locke, in an exclusive interview with The Tennessean in 1989. Sondra Locke was 45 in 1989, but her publicist claimed 42. Locke never came clean about her age, even lying about it in her autobiography, and she refused to back down despite the proliferation of fact-checking during her final years. In a 2015 podcast interview, the then 71-year-old lied that she "was just graduating high school" when she started work on this film. Locke graduated high school in May 1962 at age 18 - more than five years before she was cast in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.
    • Goofs
      The Sunny Dixie 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.
    • Quotes

      Mick: [At the gravesite] Why did he do it? I keep asking myself that over and over.

      Doctor Copeland: Oh, I don't suppose any of us will ever know that. None of us ever knew him... not really. We all brought our troubles to him, never stopping to think he may have troubles of his own.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Serial Mom/White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf/Cops & Robbersons/Backbeat/32 Short Films About Glen Gould (1994)
    • Soundtracks
      The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
      (uncredited)

      Written by Dave Grusin and Peggy Lee

    User reviews61

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Poignant sixties film with diversity issues abound -- sensitive Alan Arkin performance
    I cannot forget the theme music of "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" by Dave Grusin. There's a certain pervading peacefulness listening to its strains. Watching the film again on cable reminded me how impressed I was when I first saw it. Ever since, I kept an eye on movies with Alan Arkin in it -- his performance as John Singer, a deaf-mute, was sensitively delivered and commanded respect. It was Sondra Locke's debut appearance. She was young and slim, perfect for the role of "Mick", who learned to accept his disability and was able to share her love of music with him.

    Along this life's journey of Singer, his friends included Chuck McCann as the plump fellow deaf-mute, who's playful and loved chocolates; Stacy Keach as the recovering alcoholic and new found chess mate; Percy Rodriguez as the self-righteous black Doctor who has his strife and discords with his daughter Portia, portrayed by a young Cicely Tyson. Lessons in diversity and tolerance are subtly evident as the story progresses. The ending is certainly not of Hollywood standard. Cinematographer James Wong Howe certainly tied in hope through his lens on the final shot with Mick (Sondra Locke) in it.

    This film about reaching out and touching someone, irrespective of one's ability to verbally communicate or via signs, of one's race, color, or background, still rings true.
    helpful•34
    4
    • ruby_fff
    • Jan 2, 2000

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 31, 1968 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • American Sign Language
    • Also known as
      • Das Herz ist ein einsamer Jäger
    • Filming locations
      • Selma, Alabama, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros./Seven Arts
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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