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Boring

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

The first must-see film of the year.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Every so often, I see a movie that seems to have been a real enjoyable undertaking for the actors. Such is the case with "Dear Heart," especially for Geraldine Page, but also for Glenn Ford and the rest of the cast. Page plays Evie Jackson, a postmaster (was it postmistress back then?) from a small town attending an annual convention. This time it's in the Big Apple. She's not married, in her mid- to late-30s, and clearly looking for a husband. "Hoping" for a mate may be a more accurate description. I read a couple of reviewers who saw loneliness in the main characters – Evie, Harry Mork and Phyllis. Ford plays Mork and Angela Lansbury plays Phyllis. I can see that. But in Evie's case, we also have a person who may have some problems with self- confidence and self-esteem. Why else would she have herself paged so frequently in the movie? She also sent phone messages to herself at her hotel, and sent flowers to herself. Her gregarious persona and overt friendliness with everyone is a nice touch and admirable quality in any person. But, that may mask the character's insecurity that needs to have recognition by her frequent paging, messages, etc. Clearly, Page brought much of this to the character, and she does a tremendous job. I can understand how her manner could become irritating after a while to some people. I would love to have heard an interview with the actress to understand how she interpreted the role. In any event, she clearly seems to be having a great deal of fun in the making of the film. Glenn Ford's character, on the other hand, seems preoccupied at times. He's hankering to settle down himself, and met a widow (a "tomato in Altoona") whom he proposed to on the spur of the moment. So, how clear his thinking about settling down is suspect. Especially when he then tries to take out a "tomato" working at a hotel sales counter. Other characters in the film add a little color. And, the film gives a picture of a convention with many middle-aged and older men who enjoy their time away from home with some heavy drinking and wandering eyes. I can't see the perfect romance that some reviewers apparently see in this film. It's a light romantic comedy at best, and that's OK. It's somewhat fun, and a very good acting job by Page. But it's nothing special.

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.

This is an absolutely delightful romantic comedy. Like many others, I am amazed that I never heard of it before a few days ago, when it appeared on TCM. I recorded it (love that DVR) and watched it yesterday.I agree with others who say that the acting of the two leads, Ford and Page was excellent. So too was that of the supporting characters Lansbury and Nichols. But the many fine small touches stand out too. I loved seeing the old Penn Station in New York, long since destroyed. I loved the look of the girlfriend of Ford's "son", with the hair style, clothes, and big glasses. That brings back some high school memories. The many fine little one-liner or throw-away jokes, such as "nice wig" or Ford: "I have a psychic thing;" Nichols: "I don't want to see it." But even beyond that, I was amazed by the portrayal of the society and customs of 1963 New York. Shades of Mad Men! No, there were no Madison Avenue Ad executives, but the banter and casual sex displayed was an eye opener. I thought that all happened ten years later? Even the look and feel of Ford's character was remarkably like Don Draper. I seriously wonder if this movie was not an inspiration for Matthew Weiner when he created Mad Men.

Geraldine Page turns in a great performance as Evie Jackson, a middle-aged woman who seems to have missed the boat and fills her life managing everything and trying to make a home wherever she is. At a postmasters' convention in New York City, she treats the staff like long-lost friends while she evades a group of old maids. She says at one point, that after a woman has given up, she bonds with a group of spinsters and loses her identity.Glenn Ford is a rather desperate middle-aged man whose just gotten a promotion and will have an office in New York City. He's been a salesman on the road for decades and yearns to settle down. He's recently gotten engaged to a woman from Altoona, PA (Angela Lansbury) and plans to find an apartment in the big city.Of course these two lonely people keep running into each other at the convention hotel where they are both staying. Slowly they begin to be attracted to one another, but he's already engaged. To make matters worse, his soon-to-be step son (Michael Anderson, Jr.) has bailed from college and has basically moved in with Ford at the hotel. But Lansbury has misled him and he thinks the kid is 13. Plus he wants a home, but that's not what Lansbury has in mind.Page and Ford are just terrific in this on-and-off romantic story of two souls who finally find one another despite the pitfalls along the road. Lansbury is brash as the "other woman" and Anderson is OK in an odd role and subplot.Others in the large cast include Charles Drake as Evie's one-time boyfriend, Barbara Nichols as the sales girl, Patricia Barry as Ford's old girl friend, Richard Deacon as the convention runner, and Sandra Gould as his assistant. The pack of old maids includes Ruth McDevitt, Mary Wickes, and Alice Pearce. Neva Patterson is Page's oft-married friend. Lots of other familiar faces pop up: Hal Smith, Doris Roberts, Maxine Stuart, Patsy Garrett, Ralph Manza, and Steve Bell as Chester.Geraldine Page won a Golden Globe nomination for this film.