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IMDbPro

Only the Lonely

  • 1991
  • PG
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
13K
YOUR RATING
Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy, and John Candy in Only the Lonely (1991)
Theatrical Trailer from 20th Century Fox
Play trailer2:21
1 Video
32 Photos
ComedyRomance

A Chicago cop must balance loyalty to his controlling mother and a relationship with a shy funeral home worker.A Chicago cop must balance loyalty to his controlling mother and a relationship with a shy funeral home worker.A Chicago cop must balance loyalty to his controlling mother and a relationship with a shy funeral home worker.

  • Director
    • Chris Columbus
  • Writer
    • Chris Columbus
  • Stars
    • John Candy
    • Maureen O'Hara
    • Ally Sheedy
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    13K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Chris Columbus
    • Writer
      • Chris Columbus
    • Stars
      • John Candy
      • Maureen O'Hara
      • Ally Sheedy
    • 68User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
    • 47Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Only the Lonely
    Trailer 2:21
    Watch Only the Lonely

    Photos32

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    Top cast37

    Edit
    John Candy
    John Candy
    • Danny Muldoon
    Maureen O'Hara
    Maureen O'Hara
    • Rose Muldoon
    Ally Sheedy
    Ally Sheedy
    • Theresa Luna
    Kevin Dunn
    Kevin Dunn
    • Patrick Muldoon
    Milo O'Shea
    Milo O'Shea
    • Doyle
    Bert Remsen
    Bert Remsen
    • Spats
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    • Nick Acropolis
    Jim Belushi
    Jim Belushi
    • Salvatore Buonarte
    • (as James Belushi)
    Joe Greco
    • Johnny Luna
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    Marvin J. McIntyre
    • Father Strapovic
    Macaulay Culkin
    Macaulay Culkin
    • Billy Muldoon
    Kieran Culkin
    Kieran Culkin
    • Patrick Muldoon Jr.
    Allen Hamilton
    Allen Hamilton
    • O'Neal
    Teri McEvoy
    • Susan Muldoon
    Bernie Landis
    • Larry
    Les Podewell
    • Jack
    John Davis Chandler
    John Davis Chandler
    • Duane Earl Tyrone
    • (as John Chandler)
    Martin Fisher
    • Chess Player
    • Director
      • Chris Columbus
    • Writer
      • Chris Columbus
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The producers of the film did not include a trailer on location for Maureen O'Hara in their budget. John Candy was furious that the producers were showing someone of her stature such disrespect, and he gave her his own trailer. The producers finally caved in, because they couldn't have Candy, the star of the film, without his own trailer.
    • Goofs
      Danny's brother tells him he got Danny's boss to "transfer him to a precinct in Florida." City police departments are self governing -- there is no way anyone in the Chicago police department could transfer anyone to a precinct in another city.
    • Quotes

      Danny: [to save time, Danny and Sal decide to transport a corpse out a sixth floor window via a fire hose but the hose turns out to be too short] I guess we have to bring him back up.

      Salvatore Buonarte: I'm not bringing him back up here, he's too damn heavy!

      Danny: Well, what do you suggest we do?

      Salvatore Buonarte: Cut the hose.

      Danny: [shocked] Cut the hose?

      Salvatore Buonarte: Yeah, let him fall.

      Danny: To the ground?

      Salvatore Buonarte: Yeah!

      Danny: A fall like that could kill a guy!

      Salvatore Buonarte: He's dead for Chrissake! He's not gonna mind!

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: John Candy & Maureen O'Hara/Shirley Horn/Jim Valvano (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Only the Lonely
      Written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson

      Performed by Roy Orbison

      Courtesy of Sony Music Special Products, a division of

      Sony Music Entertainment, Inc.

    User reviews68

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10

    Only the Lonely is a fine tribute to the talents of John Candy and Maureen O'Hara late in their careers

    After Maureen O'Hara died last month, I suddenly got the urge to order this-her last theatrical movie-from Netflix for me and my mom to watch when she came back from visiting my sister in Seattle. I was wonderfully surprised to find out my mom hadn't previously seen this as that meant she would watch this with fresh eyes as I had seen this on VHS tape back in the day and remember enjoying this at the time. We both very much loved this just now. I mean, Ms. O'Hara is her lovable self-provided her character is a tad bigoted though she's simply "telling it like it is". Her son, John Candy-another performer who's been missed since he passed away only a few years after this movie-is a cop who lives with her and has been quite lonely as a result. Then one day, he meets Ally Sheedy as someone who does makeup on deceased bodies when they're both at a wake and he bravely asks her out which she accepts. I'll stop there and just mention that some complications ensue but things seem to work out at the end. Fine support from Jim Belushi as Candy's cop partner and Anthony Quinn as a neighbor who is crushing on Ms. O'Hara. Written and directed by Chris Columbus, he does a nice mixing of drama and comedy when the sequences call for it and also makes good use of the Chicago locations (a city I was born in and lived as a child for about 6 years as well as one I visited quite a bit during the '80s). Anyway, Only the Lonely is a fine tribute to the careers of both Candy and O'Hara before their untimely deaths. Oh, and Quinn as well before he passed several years later.
    • tavm
    • Nov 3, 2015
    • Permalink

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Only the Lonely?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 24, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Irish Gaelic
      • Greek
    • Also known as
      • Ma blonde, ma mère et moi
    • Filming locations
      • 212 S Halsted St, Chicago, Illinois, USA(Dianna's restaurant)
    • Production companies
      • Twentieth Century Fox
      • Hughes Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $21,830,957
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,997,993
      • May 27, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $25,092,802
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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    Maureen O'Hara, Ally Sheedy, and John Candy in Only the Lonely (1991)
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