Lonelyhearts Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		3.5

Lonelyhearts Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov January 20, 2023

Vincent Donehue's "Lonelyhearts" (1958) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The only bonus feature on the release is a vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

A little less and better-balanced melodrama would have made Vincent Donehue’s Lonelyhearts a much better film. No, there is nothing wrong with melodrama and the kind that flourished in American cinema during the 1950s and 1960s was pretty special because it was very effective at highlighting important societal issues and reminding of timeless truths. But the kind of melodrama that Lobelyhearts promotes has a preachy tone that is frequently off-putting, even absurdist. It requires that actors debate each other as adjunct professors auditioning for tenure positions and deliver their crucial points with coded statements and quotes that make it impossible to see them as normal human beings. It also creates the impression that it is not for everyone because only the intellectually sophisticated viewer would be able to grasp the essence of what it attempts to accomplish.

So, what does the melodrama in Lonelyhearts attempt to accomplish?

First, it must be underscored that it is mixed with a very heavy dose of adult cynicism. This instantly makes Lonelyhearts easy to place in the company of Written on the Wind and The Carpetbaggers, though its ability to offend in the name of truth-telling is inferior. Lonelyhearts remains content in forcing its characters out of their comfort zones and making them reconsider their system of beliefs, only slightly scarring their egos in the process and ultimately allowing them the freedom to emerge stronger. Second, it must be underscored that it does not overshadow the personalities of the main characters. (In The Carpetbaggers precisely the opposite happens. The extremely cynical melodrama becomes bigger than the personalities of the film’s main characters). Lonelyhearts very carefully manages the personalities of its characters and uses them to acquire a special identity.

There are four key characters in Lonelyhearts. Adam White (Montgomery Clift) is an aspiring young journalist who has had a difficult time finding work in the extremely competitive newspaper industry. Justy Sargeant (Dolores Hart) is his supportive girlfriend who believes that it is only a matter of time before his talent and potential to evolve into a great journalist are recognized. William Shrike (Robert Ryan) is the very cynical owner of an established newspaper that has had a difficult stretch but continues to grow. Florence Shrike (Myrna Loy) is his disillusioned wife. During a prearranged meeting in a nightclub, White’s sincerity makes an impression and he is offered a job, but instead of doing ‘serious’ work, he is asked to run a column where frustrated women share their misery with the world. As the column quickly becomes one of the newspaper’s most popular, White’s relationships with his boss and girlfriend begin to suffer, and the drama that emerges causes ripple effects that force him to reevaluate his priorities in life. While it lasts, the drama also further erodes Shrike’s relationship with his wife, who feels guilty for having cheated on him years ago but believes that she has learned from her mistake and deserves a second chance.

The essence of the message that emerges from the melodrama is that through suffering comes redemption and enlightenment. However, the religious context in which this message is usually placed is absent. As a result, the melodrama has a very different, notably contemporary resonance. Unfortunately, the cynicism that makes this contemporary resonance possible feels very controlled and ultimately artificial.

While all four leads mismanage their characters, Ryan is the biggest offender because he frequently delivers his lines with a theatrical pomposity that is quite simply impossible to defend. Clift is marginally better because his character is given more time to reflect on his decisions and actions before the camera, but he is unconvincing as well.

*Kino Lorber’s release of Lonelyhearts is sourced from an exclusive new master that was prepared on behalf of MGM.

Lonelyhearts Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Lonelyhearts arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

The release is sourced from a recent master that was prepared on behalf of MGM. This master is good and gives the Lonelyhearts a fine organic appearance, but it is rather easy to tell that it could have been better. Why? Because time has left its mark on Lonelyhearts and portions of it reveal fluctuations in quality that only a proper restoration could address. This does not mean that there are serious anomalies that would make it impossible for you to have a pleasing viewing experience, but even if you do not usually notice the effects of aging here you will. For example, there are abrupt shifts in the density levels that can momentarily affect delineation and clarity. Depth can be impacted as well. From time to time, even the grayscale reveals minor inconsistencies because the balance between the blacks, grays, and whites is destabilized. However, all visuals, even the ones where fluctuations are noticeable, retain a fine organic appearance, so as far as I am concerned this is still a very solid technical presentation. My score is 4.25/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Lonelyhearts Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The dialog is clear and easy to follow. However, I had my volume turned up quite a bit and from time to time I noticed the presence of an extremely light background hiss. Is it distracting? Absolutely not, but I have to mention it because it is there. Also, I noticed small balance fluctuations, but they are even easier to ignore.

Lonelyhearts Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - a vintage U.S. trailer for Lonelyhearts. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

Lonelyhearts Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A bigger director with greater experience should have been asked to tackle Lonelyhearts. Vincent Donehue's direction of the excellent cast that was assembled for this film is not convincing and this is the key reason its cynical melodrama fails to impress. It is unfortunate because there are bits of material where it is rather easy to see that the potential for a very special film was present. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an exclusive new, slightly uneven but still quite good organic master that was prepared on behalf of MGM. RECOMMENDED only to the fans.