Dear Heart

source: Dear Heart

Trailer—Dear Heart

Dear Heart

I first saw this movie alone in our darkening family room on a summer evening at the age of 14.It was the first Geraldine Page performance I'd ever seen and it hooked me.I fell in love with her,with Glenn Ford,with New York City,with apartments over cafés,with....well,I fell in love.This movie rings with romantic notions and truths,sympathetic characters,and (for viewers of a certain age or awareness) an abundance of familiar faces.Also the theme song "Dear Heart" is one of Henry Mancini's loveliest and most evocative both melodically and lyrically.Actually,in my early teens I spent a lot of summer evenings watching television alone in our darkening family room,a little lonely yet hoping not to be disturbed.Now,at age 51,I consider myself lucky that during those somewhat lonely and impressionable times I had the opportunity to be exposed to this movie and so many others of it's quality.I like it!

What a great movie this is! Geraldine Page as the lonely postal employee in New York for a convention, meets Glenn Ford a man just promoted and hoping to finally settle down in one place. Angela Landbury is the woman he hopes to marry and settle down with. She is a high tone woman, with a grown son, who she has passed off, by an old picture as a young boy. Ford seems overwhelmed by the thought of the whole thing, and finds that Page is a port in the storm. You don't immediately see the chemistry between the two, but as the picture goes on, we see that they are kindred souls. She is sweet and social, and just a bit needy for companionship. He under everything is basically the same. In the end he chases her to the train station, realizing that he has truly met the woman who he can be with for the rest of his life. Excellent small film with wonderful performances by all.

This film is one of the best! Glen Ford and Geraldine Page are excellent. The story is believable, sentimental without being too predictable. Page, as Evie gives a marvelous performance as a single woman postmaster in her forties, living it up at a convention in the Big Apple; perhaps her best performance. At one point, she gives a monologue about what women "give up" as they grow older waiting to find a husband. The writing is touching without being saccharine. And the direction throughout this scene and others is subtle and play-like; simply superb. Films are just not shot in long takes as this one anymore. This film is an example of a little-known black and white film that gets overlooked, but is stellar in its own right!

There are two reasons for watching this film. The most important one is the chance to watch one of the great actresses of our time at work. The other is Mancini's beautiful theme. Evie Jackson is in NYC for the annual postmasters' convention,and Harry Mork is apartment-hunting. Harry and Evie are staying at the same hotel and meet. Harry tells Evie he's engaged and asks her to supply a woman's appraisal of an apartment he's considering. The scene at the apartment, where Evie slowly realizes that he really IS engaged (and not wooing her) is an acting tour de force. That one scene is worth the price of admission. I saw the film at its opening, at Radio City Music Hall, and I'll never forget it - or Geraldine Page.

Sweet, gentle comedy-drama of two lonely souls slowly realizing they are meant for each other. Geraldine Page has never been more endearing, her Evie Jackson is such a tender soul; a bit of a flibbertigibbet but only with the best intentions. She and Glenn Ford at first would seem mismatched by by subtle interplay you see that they would never be so right for anyone else. Angela Lansbury shows once again what a wonderful character actress she is by swooping in near the picture's end and in a few short scenes creating a fully realized person. Great supporting cast that seems to utilize every great distinctive older actress of the day, where else will you see both Gladys Kravitz together in the same movie as well as Mary Wickes and Ruth McDevitt? Great theme song too boot.

A lonely and single woman look for love and companionship in New York City at a postmasters' convention. This sweet film brought tears to my eyes watching it. Dear Heart was wonderfully acted by Geraldine Page, Glenn Ford, and Angela Lansbury. It was a delight to watch.

Geraldene Page was always one of my favorite actresses. She was exceptionally good as she posessed a broad spectrum of insight into the characters that she portrayed. She was one of the few actresses who could play almost any given part in any genre. Here she is teamed with the very talented Glenn Ford in a light-hearted romantic comedy where they play off of each other brilliantly. The directing is fabulous and so is the story, even though some may find it a bit slow. I think it is worth watching more than once. One of the most hilarious scenes in the film is when Miss Page and Mr. Ford are in one of the hotel hallways deciding exactly what the other guests are like and 'supposedly how they live' as well. I like this movie because it makes me feel good! Angela Lansbury is excellent also, in her 'barely more than a cameo appearance' as she ignites the fire that makes the story work! A definite 10 in my book. Watch this gem!