None But the Lonely Heart | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster
|
|
Directed by | Clifford Odets |
Produced by | David Hempstead |
Written by | Clifford Odets |
Based on |
None but the Lonely Heart 1943 novel by Richard Llewellyn |
Starring |
Cary Grant Ethel Barrymore Barry Fitzgerald June Duprez Jane Wyatt George Coulouris Dan Duryea |
Music by | Hanns Eisler |
Cinematography | George Barnes |
Edited by | Roland Gross |
Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures |
Release date
|
|
Running time
|
113 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $1.3 million |
None but the Lonely Heart is a 1944 American drama romance film which tells the story of a young Cockney drifter 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, and Barry Fitzgerald.
The title of the film is taken from one of Tchaikovsky's best-known songs, which is featured in the background music.
Ernie Mott (Cary Grant) is a restless, irresponsible, wandering Cockney with a good musical ear. On Armistice Day, Ernie visits the tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey, which memorializes those who died in World War I, including his father. Ernie wants a better life but does not want to settle down or work for it. When he returns home, Ma Mott (Ethel Barrymore) asks why he has returned after so long, and she gives him an ultimatum that he must stay home now or leave forever. He informs her that he will then be leaving next morning, and goes out to get a drink. He meets fellow musician Aggie Hunter (Jane Wyatt) outside the bar, but instead prefers the company of a gangster's fickle former wife, Ada Brantline (June Duprez). However, when Ernie becomes smitten with Ada she rejects his offer of a date when he tells her he will be leaving town tomorrow.
The next morning, Ma Mott tells her pawnbroker friend, Ike Weber (Konstantin Shayne), that she has cancer. Ma and Ernie get into another fight, but after he storms out, Ike shares with him that his mother needs him in her battle with cancer. Ernie returns and says that he will stay with her at home and help her run her shop.