X
- 1968
- M
- Cinerama Releasing Corporation
- 1 h 43 m
- 1968
- M
- Cinerama Releasing Corporation
- 1 h 43 m
Summary An intellectually disabled man undergoes an experiment that gives him the intelligence of a genius.
Directed By: Ralph Nelson
Written By: Daniel Keyes, Stirling Silliphant
- 1968
- M
- Cinerama Releasing Corporation
- 1 h 43 m
- 1968
- M
- Cinerama Releasing Corporation
- 1 h 43 m
Charly
50
User Score
Available after 4 ratings
tbd
Summary An intellectually disabled man undergoes an experiment that gives him the intelligence of a genius.
Directed By: Ralph Nelson
Written By: Daniel Keyes, Stirling Silliphant
Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
50
17% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
83% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 6 Critic Reviews
50
17% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
83% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Strangely enough, Ralph Nelson's Charly succeeds as a movie for reasons having little to do with the plot. As the story of a personality in crisis, it works. We care about Charly. But the whole scientific hocus-pocus, which causes his crisis, is irrelevant and weakens the movie by distracting us.
The premise is certainly alluring. But director Ralph Nelson and screenwriter Stirling Silliphant make a multitude of jaw-dropping choices.
Considering the innumerable stumbling blocks, cast does well. Cliff Robertson seems to overdo the external manifestations of retardation, but he is excellent in the post-operative scenes. With more help from the script he could have been a movingly tragic figure.
The very sentimental Charly has not dated well, but still remains intriguing for its premise and for Cliff Robertson's Oscar-winning performance.
It's a slovenly piece of moviemaking and it's full of howlers. Charly may represent the unity of schlock form and schlock content -- true schlock art.
I'm told by someone whose opinion I respect that the novel was very moving and very sad. The movie is not. It's science-fiction without gadgets, a horror film without thrills.
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Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 3 Nominations
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
National Board of Review, USA
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
