The Out-of-Towners (1970)

"Dear Heart, Wish you were here, to warm this night .."

With those lines, Henry Manicini's song begins one of the finest romatic movies Hollywood ever produced. I have loved "Dear Heart" from my first viewing so many years ago on television, and I was so happy when it was first released on VHS. I actually sent letters asking the movie be saved. Now, it is about to be forgotten again, and that would be such a shame. I hope someone will rescue this most wonderful of movies and release it on DVD. I promise to be an ardent customer.
Why is the movie so special? - wonderful script, superb acting, careful direction, and, of course, Henry Mancini's haunting score.
Geraldine Page, perhaps one of the finest actresses to grace the stage or silver screen, shines as the loveable, sometimes whacky, and always genuinely beautiful Evie Jackson. Her performance as Evie is a thing of beauty, to be enjoyed, marveled at, and treasured.
In the movie, Evie hasn't found love, but she hasn't given up. She faces the world with courage and hope, depsite seeing the world as it is. What makes her wonderful is she is herself no matter what life throws her. While attending a convention in a New York hotel, she meets Glenn Ford (a salesman) who thinks he has already found love, but really hasn't.
The script then masterfully unfolds, allowing this most unlikely of romances to somehow find its way.
There are so many memorable scenes in the movie: One of my favorites is when Page and Ford are walking the hotel hallway together, examining the room service trays and commenting on what they tell about the people in the rooms. There is more insight into human nature in that one scene than in most movies. And the ending - well, it is one of the finest ever filmed.
The movie is also populated with some of the outstanding character actors Hollywood ever produced, and Delbert Mann (the director) allows them all to shine. If you want to know what love should be, look no further than than this tender, romantic gem.
Someone please save this movie and relase it on DVD. If you do, it will, like the song says, "... warm this night." June 3, 2008

Beautifully romantic Movie!

Probably one of the most romantic Films ever made, starring Geraldine Page and Glenn Ford as the unlikely couple thrown together by chance circumstances.

This Movie gives Geraldine Page an opportunity to show what a versatile actress she really is. Compare this role, say, to that which she plays in 'What Ever Happened To Aunt Alice' and you'll see what I mean! From the moment this Movie starts, you are endeared to the character Evie Jackson; her simple and child-like innocence and vulnerability moves you to tears, and will capture your heart from the beginning. From saving message cards sent to herself as mementoes from a 'lonely' trip away from home alone - to paying Bellboys to 'page' her name for nothing more than to feel 'wanted'... Evie Jackson is one of those people who is naturally 'nice', and blissfully unaware of it; someone nobody misses until they are gone from this life... Somehow, Glenn Ford's character is no-where near good enough for her, but we rejoice in the ending that makes life worth living for Evie.

A Romantic comedy that although has amusing moments, they are, at times, so terribly sad and full of melancholia, they make us want to cry...

We are still longing for this Movie to come out on DVD, and perhaps now, having lost Glenn Ford recently, this may just happen, but the Video was only ever available in the USA, and so we may still have a long wait...

True Movie Magic! March 27, 2007

Lovely

This film came out just as I was new in Chicago, in a new city, with a new job, in a terrible lirttle apartment and so so alone. I was 25 and had all but given up ever finding love. I think I saw this movie about eight times because I could identify with the story so much. I felt no one understood me but at least this movie did. Soon after the movie left the theatre out of the blue love came to me. It was literally love at first sight and in fact both of us that day felt that at this party we were invited to we would be meeting our life partner. We of course only discovered that fact later. We were together 30 wonderful years until death separated us. When I look back at the little boy I was, so isolated, so lonely, I know the happy ending of this film is true to life. Geraldine Page is a wonder in this film, but so is everyone other actor in the screen. The feeling for New York City is keen and observant. I hope one day it comes out on DVD. It did nice box office in its time but is almost forgotten today. July 1, 2006

Movie - 5 stars. Video transfer - 1 star - - -

Somebody at Warner Bros. wasn't paying attention. There's a problem with the audio on the VHS version. The effects and music tracks are screwed up. A single sound (knock on a door) is repeated. This ain't reverb...more like selsync feedback. A minor irritation and after a while you get used to it. But, still - C'mon you guys! It's a GREAT movie! Pay attention!

Bring on the DVD.
May 19, 2005

Love It

The first time I saw this movie, I loved it; Of course, Ms Page is good; the best, but I think portraying a middle aged postmistress at her annual postal convention and meeting a travelling salesman may just change things for her; Ok, you have this sweet,little middle aged lady(Geraldine Page), who is in NYC for her annual Postal Convention, and she happens to meet Glenn Ford, who unfortunately is up there to meet up with his fiancee(Angela Lansbury)and son, and finding out that things are not as cracked up as they can be; One of the sweetest scenes in the movie is where Page and Ford are waiting for a room and looking out the window, and somehow, they end up kissing; so romantic; a nice sleeper of a film that's cute and enjoyable; March 13, 2005

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