Customer Reviews

None But the Lonely Heart [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Cary Grant was born in Bristol, England. His father put his mother in an insane asylum when young Archie Leach (his name at the time) was only a boy. Grant grew up without a mother, and when he read the script for the movie, frinds of his such as Frank Sinatra, and Gregory Peck siad he was overjoyed, and throughout the film's production, too. Cary really got to display some emotions in the film he was never given a chance to in real life until he was an adult. Ethyl Barrymore's outstanding, Oscar winning performance made it all the more easier for Cary to show his feelings. Cary was very excited when he took everyone he knew to the film's premier, but after, all were stunned at the dark, sombre mood of the film. The Oscars agreed with Cary, however, and gave him his second and last nomination... but of course he was stiffed because the Acadamey Awards are often ridiculous. A young cockney drifter returns home to help out his poor mother in time of need. The film is very sad, and grave, and sombre. There is nothing else like it in the Grant filmography, although his dramatic turns are always his best roles. So dark and grimy, richly dteailed, beautifully filmed, wonderfully acted, cleverly written, and carefully directed, this is one of the greatest films ever made, certainly in the Grant top five, and the all around top ten or fifteen. Those who know Grant and have any brains at all will be almost shocked by this wonderful display of how motion pictures can truly affect us.

Clifford Odets wrote and directed this movie. Naturally, it follows the type of dramatic lines that you would expect from a playwright. I disagree with Leonard Maltin's review. This is a very fine movie and well worth any drama lover's attention.

Cary Grant is very good in his role as Ernie Mott. Ethel Barrymore plays his mother in the movie and she is riveting and marvelous. Barry Fitzgerald is his usual fine self. The actor who played Jim Mordinoy--Coulouris I believe--had his character down to a finely honed edge. A truly memorable heavy. June Duprez who played Ada was superb. She was lovely, eloquently honest, and terrifically sexy.

For me it's hard to do much better than a Clifford Odets script. His dialogue always seems to sparkle with intelligence, wit, and a hard won wisdom that hasn't had all of its innocence destroyed by a brutal world.

The theme of the movie seems to revolve around a line that Ernie says a couple of times. Something to the effect that: "In this world you're either the fox or the hound. But what if you don't want to be either the fox or the hound? What then?" Or something along those lines. Ernie's task in this movie is express his love for his mother and Ada and also to find a "decent life" in this world.

The script and the cinemaphotography reflect a gray and bleak picture of the struggle for survival by working class people in the England of the 30's--shortly before the outbreak of WWII. It's really a typical Odets'critique of the brutality and heartlessness of western society. Regardless of your politics, though, if you like fine drama and brilliant dialogue, catch this movie. It won't lift you up, but it should educate your heart--the lonely one that is. ...

As a boy growing up in England and having an estranged relationship with his mother, I believe this was his way of going back to his roots and being the son he so desperately wanted to be. He gives an air of hominess to the movie. It really seemed like he could have been living the part. You can also tell that there was a lot of raw emotion pent up inside of him that he didn't let just anyone see in his other comedic roles, this one was very close to his heart, and being a Cary Grant fanatic, I like the fact that he let everyone see a glimpse of his real self behind all of the glitz and glamour of hollywood. It took guts to relive the old memories.

This is a very nice edition of the film on VHS, and I recommend it highly in the absence of an affordable DVD edition. But with so much video manure out there on DVD, how can the industry overlook this classic film? Grant is at his best in this role of the determined but self-loathing ne'er-do-well. Audiences of the day did not like to see their beloved Cary in such roles, but here he actually gets to show what a fine acting talent he really was. Yes, his looks and style were the envy of every man and the object of every woman, but here, without denying any of that, he unabashedly shows you the dark worthlessness that can often lie beneath a gorgeous exterior.

NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART (1944)

This is a very emotionally draining film. What spectactular performances by Grant, Barrymore, Wyatt and Duprez. Cary Grants restless drifter really makes you feel his frustration with life and society in pre ww2 England. Duprez is lovely as the target of a ruthless crime bosses not so innocent affections. She is a kindred spirit to Cary that sees him for the decent but troubled guy he really is.

Wyatt is charming as the female friend of Grant that hoplessly and not too secretly longs for him. However, the real treat in this movie is the dynamic between Grant as the son and Ethel Barrymore as the mother desperate to get him on the right path, even if it destroys her.

There is a wonderful scene when she buys Grant a new suit and they sit down to dinner together. He knows her secret that she's trying to keep from him and the facial reactions of both of them are highly emotional. His final scene with her is nothing less than gut wrenching. Grant restlessly wanders the streets at night. The cinematography, the rain and the gray color palette helps relay to the viewer Grants feelings of being closed in, clausterphobic and his sense of futility about his life.

Another great pleasure in this film is Cary Grants friendship with the Barry Fitzgerald character, dispensing helpful bits of wisdom. Excellent entertainment and easliy one of Grants best performances, as well as Barrymores.
Obviously, I highly recommend this movie.

I needed this movie as a X-mas gift to a co-worker & amazon.com was the only that had a new never opened copy. Again, not disappointed - film played well & despite it being VHS had a great picture quality. Cary Grant lovers ... it's a MUST for your collection!

I had never seen this movie before this early morning. I was astounded at the amazing performance given by Cary Grant, though not surprised at his ability. Ethel Barrymore was always good, and especially with a great script to work from by Clifford Odets and Richard Llewellyn. With Odets directing, he really got a great piece of work from all who were in it. I know the great comedian that was Cary Grant. I know him of the high suspense, of Hitchcock films and others of that ilk. But I was so moved by this entire movie. What a great role for Grant to be able to play. Really used his real English accent. Showed more real depth of character, with struggle, and breaking heart of a girlfriend, but even more of the care he had for his mother. As well as her's for him. I wish this could be found on a DVD. I think it is Cary Grant's greatest picture.

This film has a certain quality that most other films of the 40s do not have. . .good story and a powerful message.

It seems I've been doing only negative reviews lately. The truth is that I want to get the rhinestones out of the way to make room for the diamonds such as "Notorious", "To Catch a Thief", "North by Northwest", to name a few with Cary Grant in them.

Everyone else here rates this five stars, and I hate to have to differ so drastically, but I can only tell the truth. I was not impressed with this film in the least. I like many Cary Grant movies - particularly the ones named above - but this one just didn't do it for me, and I don't think it had anything to do with him. He tried. It was the role and the rest of the movie that lacked. I kept asking, "What is going on?" And when it ended I said, "What was that all about?" Some movies can touch a person even without making sense, but this one didn't make sense and it didn't touch me. Since I honestly can't remember what this was about, having never known to begin with, I'll say some other stuff instead.

I have read how Cary wanted to do this movie because it was very close to home for him, which is understandable. But somehow it just didn't seem to fit him. I thought he seemed a bit stiff and unnatural. I think it's strange how actors are typecast, and how seldom they can successfully be anything but what they were typed to be.

Well, I think I've rambled on enough about this movie - I don't think it's worth writing a whole lot about.