None but the Lonely Heart
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None But the Lonely Heart
Plot
Cary Grant delivered Oscar-calibre performances all his life, but only when he played against type in None But the Lonely Heart did the Academy Awards people break down and give him a nomination. Grant plays a restless, irresponsible cockney who seeks a better life but doesn't seem to have the emotional wherewithal to work for such a life. The hero's shiftlessness extends to his love life; musician Jane Wyatt genuinely cares for him, but he prefers the company of fickle gangster's ex-wife June Duprez. June's former husband George Coulouris convinces Grant that the quickest means to wealth is a life of crime, but Grant drops this aspect of his life to take care of his terminally ill mother Ethel Barrymore. While Cary Grant did not win the Oscar he so richly deserved for None But the Lonely Heart, Ethel Barrymore did cop the gold statuette. Written and directed by Clifford Odets, None But the Lonely Heart unfortunately lost money for RKO, which could have used a little extra cash after paying the expenses of temporarily closing Ms. Barrymore's Broadway play The Corn is Green. ~ Hal Erickson, RoviReview
None But the Lonely Heart would be a worthwhile film if for no other reason than the fact that it showcases a solid-gold dramatic performance from Cary Grant. Arguably the cinema's finest light comic actor (and criminally underestimated by the Academy), Grant easily sheds the sophistication and charm that are his usual hallmarks for this decidedly change-of-pace role and delivers a devastating performance that is rich, complex, and very real. Grant manages to be electrifying but understated; the viewer is compelled to watch, not because of showy fireworks but because of the fine nuances the actor brings to his work. He is matched by the glorious Ethel Barrymore in a beautifully controlled performance; the chemistry between Barrymore and Grant is palpable, making the audience understand the bonds of love and frustration that entangle these two. There's fine supporting work all around, especially from Barry Fitzgerald, George Coulouirs, and a sensitive Jane Wyatt. Clifford Odets' screenplay is carefully structured and features many examples of Odets' mournfully poetic dialogue. As a director, Odets does solid work here; if it could be a little more expansive or imaginative in places, it still works and definitely delivers the goods. Lonely is a "little" film, but it has a melancholy beauty that is haunting and lovely. ~ Craig Butler, RoviCast
- Cary Grant - Ernie Mott
- Ethel Barrymore - Ma Mott
- Barry Fitzgerald - Twite
- June Duprez - Ada
- Jane Wyatt - Aggie Hunter
Credit
Albert S. D'Agostino - Art Director, Jack Okey - Art Director, Sherman Todd - Associate Producer, Renie - Costume Designer, Ruby Rosenberg - First Assistant Director, Clifford Odets - Director, Roland Gross - Editor, Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Composer (Music Score), Hanns Eisler - Composer (Music Score), Constantin Bakaleinikoff - Musical Direction/Supervision, Mel Berns, Sr. - Makeup, Mordecai Gorelik - Production Designer, George Barnes - Cinematographer, David Hempstead - Producer, Jack Okey - Set Designer, Darrell Silvera - Set Designer, Harley Miller - Set Designer, Vernon Walker - Special Effects, James G. Stewart - Sound/Sound Designer, Richard VanHessen - Sound/Sound Designer, Clifford Odets - Screenwriter, Richard Llewellyn - Book Author| None But the Brave (1928 Film), None But the Brave (1965 Film) | |
| None But the Lonely Spy (1964 Film), None Left Standing (2005 Film) |
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None but the Lonely Heart
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None but the Lonely Heart (film)
For the 1869 song by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, see None but the lonely heart.
| None But the Lonely Heart | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Clifford Odets |
| Produced by | David Hempstead |
| Written by | Clifford Odets Richard Llewellyn (novel) |
| Starring | Cary Grant Ethel Barrymore Barry Fitzgerald June Duprez Jane Wyatt George Coulouris Dan Duryea |
| Music by | Hanns Eisler |
| Cinematography | George Barnes |
| Editing by | Roland Gross |
| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
| Release date(s) | October 17, 1944 |
| Running time | 113 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
None but the Lonely Heart is a 1944 film which tells the story of a Cockney lad who returns home with no ambitions but finds that his family needs him. Adapted by Clifford Odets from the novel by Richard Llewellyn and directed by Odets, the movie stars Cary Grant, Ethel Barrymore, Barry Fitzgerald, June Duprez, Jane Wyatt, George Coulouris, and Dan Duryea.
The title of the film is taken from one of Tchaikovsky's best-known songs, which is featured in the background music.
None but the Lonely Heart won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Ethel Barrymore) and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Cary Grant), Best Film Editing and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Hanns Eisler and Constantin Bakaleinikoff).
The screenplay was published in Best Film Plays—1945, eds. John Gassner and Dudley Nichols (New York: Crown, 1946).
Musical comedian and parodist Spike Jones recorded a three minute spoof of radio soap operas entitled None but the Lonely Heart (A Soaperetta) in the 1940s.
None but the Lonely Heart and Sylvia Scarlett (1935) were the only two films in which Cary Grant used a Cockney accent,[citation needed] though that was not his original accent, as he was from Bristol, which has a very different accent from London.[citation needed] The unique vocal intonations with which he spoke in every other film were the happy results of an unsuccessful attempt to go from an English to an American accent so that he wouldn't be limited to playing British roles in American movies.[citation needed]
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Contents
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Plot
Ernie Mott (Cary Grant) is a restless, irresponsible, wandering cockney with a good musical ear. His father died in World War I. Ernie wants a better life but doesn't want to settle down or work for it. This extends to his love life; musician Aggie Hunter (Jane Wyatt) genuinely cares for him, but he prefers the company of fickle gangster's ex-wife Ada Brantline (June Duprez).[1]
When Ernie finds out that his mother has cancer, he decides to stay put, be a good son, and help her run her shop. A series of unfortunate incidents leads to his mother dying in prison, and he fails to win the lasting affection of Ada. At the end of the film there is a mention of the on-going war (World War II) and some indication that Ernie may be going to straighten out his life and perhaps think seriously about settling down with Aggie.
Cast
- Cary Grant as Ernie Mott
- Ethel Barrymore as Ma Mott
- Barry Fitzgerald as Henry Twite
- June Duprez as Ada Brantline
- Jane Wyatt as Aggie Hunter
- George Coulouris as Jim Mordinoy
- Dan Duryea as Lew Tate
- Roman Bohnen as Dad Pettyjohn
- Konstantin Shayne as Ike Weber
References
External links
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Mentioned in
Richard Llewellyn
(Welsh novelist)
Barrymore
(Family of American actors)
Roland Gross
(Actor, Drama)
Softly, As I Leave You: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra
(1998 Album by Roger Williams)
Constantin Bakaleinikoff
(Actor, Drama/Comedy)
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