The Lonely Guy (1984)

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.

Director:

Arthur Hiller

Writers:

Ed. Weinberger (screenplay), Stan Daniels (screenplay)

Stars:

Steve Martin, Charles Grodin, Judith Ivey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Martin	...	Larry
Charles Grodin	...	Warren
Judith Ivey	...	Iris
Steve Lawrence	...	Jack
Robyn Douglass	...	Danielle
Merv Griffin	...	Merv Griffin
Joyce Brothers	...	Joyce Brothers (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	...	Girl in Blood Bank
Nicholas Mele	...	Maitre D'

Storyline

When shy Larry Hubbard finds his girlfriend in bed with another man he is forced to begin a new life as single. But since he can't bear being on his own he tries to court Iris who is not however interested in him. Larry begins writing a book on his experience as a single which unexpectedly becomes a best seller. He becomes rich and famous and even his relationship with Iris can begin on a new basis.

---

Plot Keywords:

skank | whore | slut | slutty character | slutty wife | 

---

Taglines:

A Hysterical Comedy About Being Lonely in the City

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anime gemelle

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,072,130, 27 January 1984, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$5,718,573

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Aspen Film Society

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of two movies, both comedies, released in 1984 that were directed by Arthur Hiller. The other picture was Teachers (1984).

---

Goofs

When Larry calls Carol at the bank during the robbery she is tied up and sitting toward the back of the bank between a man and another woman employee also both tied. In the next scene she is sitting 20 feet closer to the front door of the bank still tied up but behind a desk by herself.

---

Quotes

Larry Hubbard: You know, the guys who always keep their hair are the guys who have no use for it at all, they're not trying to impress anybody.
Warren Evans: Who's that?
Larry Hubbard: Like bums. You ever seen a bald bum? They always have a beautiful head of hair.
Warren Evans: Why is that?
Larry Hubbard: I think it's because they never wash it. It's the only time you ever see your hair fall out is after you take your shower and you wash your hair, there's a bunch of hair laying there.
Warren Evans: You mean if I'd never washed my hair, I'd have a full head of hair?
Larry Hubbard: Of course, ...
[...]

---

Connections

Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Charles Grodin/Bob and Ray/Mike Rozier (1983)

---

Soundtracks

The Lonely Guy
Sung by Max Carl
Music by Glenn Frey
Lyrics by Jack Tempchin
Produced by Glenn Frey and Allan Blazek

User Reviews

Another mixed review, and video disappointment

The Lonely Guy is often quite funny but unfortunately sometimes dreadfully dull. Like Jim Abrahams and later Mel Brooks movies, this is classic Neil Simon where he throws rapid-fire jokes at you. Some hit and some miss, but you don't have to wait long for the next one. The scene where he dines alone in a fancy restaurant was one of the funniest. Somebody else seemed to think so, too, as it was copied almost verbatim for an Australian TV commercial two years later. Imitation must be the sincerest form of flattery.

As a New Yorker, I liked seeing the city in this movie. It's a somewhat dirtier but more variegated New York than in movies like "Ghost" or "When Harry Met Sally," which spent too much time in tony neighborhoods like Tribeca, the Village and Midtown.

Unfortunately, the definitive home video version does not exist and probably never will. The laserdisc is marred by a bad transfer and excessive, very objectionable video and audio noise. This may be the dreaded laser rot in action or just bad production. The DVD is beautiful, with a crisp transfer and no noticeable noise. But its 1.85:1 widescreen presentation is in the form of matting/masking the 1.33:1 Academy Frame, so instead of showing more picture, it actually shows less than the cassette and the laserdisc. The matting makes the "widescreen" frame feel distractingly cramped, with characters' heads continually butting up against the top. One joke in particular suffers badly: When Larry is laying on a bed talking to a woman, he's bare-chested in his fantasy to imply they're in bed together. But the widescreen version shows only his head, so the joke is weakened. Too bad a full-frame DVD will probably never be made as this is one of the few times when a full-frame presentation would have been preferable.