The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter (1968)

Directed by Robert Ellis Miller. Starring Alan Arkin, Sonda Locke, Percy Rodriguez, Stacy Keach, Laurinda Barrett, Biff McGuire, Cicely Tyson, Chuck McCann, Johnny Popwell, Wayne Smith, Jackie Marlowe. [G]

Sensitive drama of a deaf and mute man (Arkin) renting a room from a struggling suburban family to be close to institutionalized and mentally-handicapped McCann, his only friend. His gentle, unassuming nature has a significant effect on several people, including the family’s teenage daughter (Locke) still coming of age, a drunk drifter (Keach) who just thought Arkin was a good listener, and a black doctor (Rodriguez) who believes in “sticking with his own.” The ingredients are there for a wrong-headed and tacky feel-good story where Arkin’s character is given a near-heroic arc in changing lives with simple values and humility, but the filmmakers take a more measured and observant approach. Features one of the few “peaceful” scores composed by Dave Grusin that doesn’t sound like something that would barely pass muster on a second-rate TV-movie. Adapted by Thomas C. Ryan from Carson McCullers’ same-named 1940 novel, which was set in the 30s; this one was moved to contemporary times, and it’s a reflection of the sad state of affairs that the narrative’s embittered racial disharmony still fit right in several decades later. Locke and Keach both make their film acting debuts.

79/100