None But the Lonely Heart

I was captivated by seeing Cary Grant act out of his usual smug comic persona. Couldn't shake off all of his happy tics, but the heavy somber atmosphere of this piece kept him in check. None But the Lonely Heart (1944) also marked the return of Ethel Barrymore, of the famous Barrymore family. Her experience helped give this melodrama some credibility, and she received a supporting Oscar for her efforts. I know this film has it's share of critiques, but I came soooo close to loving it.

I really liked this one. Found another Cary Grant movie I've been trying to find for 30 years. This is one of best acting roles and he was even nominated for an Academy Award for it. Ethel Barrymore, who played his mother, won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Very unusual role for Cary Grant, so it is interesting in that respect.The film itself is a bit all over the place and with no particular memorable scenes there is nothing much to recommend in it.

I can see why wartime audiences didn't connect with this film. First, you have Cary Grant playing a very un-Cary Grant type role. Second, the film as directed by Clifford Odets, is all over the map, never really meshing when it finally finishes. It never can decide whether or not it wants to be a romance film or Dickensian tragedy. In the end, it may have been Grant's favorite role, but the film itself is very forgettable.

This is a very dramatic movie with good conflict and everything, but in the end it all goes nowhere. Just when the audience knows what the right thing for the main character to do is, all the characters walk off and it ends! How is that a resolution to all the conflicts we see in the movie? Also, it was interesting to hear Grant go in and out of his cockney accent throughout the movie. Check it out if want, but I won't recommend it, it wasn't that great, but it's not horrible.