ONLY THE LONELY
US, 1991, 104 minutes, Colour.
John Candy, Maureen O' Hara, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Quinn, James Belushi, Macauley Culkin, Milo O' Shea.
Directed by Chris Columbus.
Only the Lonely is a pleasing sentimental comedy written by Chris Columbus. Columbus has written a number of films including Gremlins, Young Sherlock Holmes as well as Home Alone. He has also directed a number of films including Adventures in Babysitting, Heartbreak Hotel as well as Home Alone. The film was produced under the auspices of John Hughes, best known for his family comedies from the National Lampoon comedies and Mr Mom to Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Uncle Buck and Curly Sue.
The strength of the film is in the cast. John Candy shows that he is an adept comedian but can also present serious themes well. Maureen O'Hara appears as his mother. After a 20-year absence from the screen, at the age of 70, she is still a striking presence. Columbus said that he wondered what the heroine of John Ford's A Quiet Man would be like after 40 years - and this characterisation is the result. Ally Sheedy is attractive as the worker in embalming in her father's undertaker business. James Belushi is John Candy's friend. Anthony Quinn has a guest role as the next-door neighbour, a Greek in love with Maureen O' Hara.
The film has a Chicago setting, highlights the Irish ghetto, the antagonism towards the Italians and Greeks. The film also highlights the dominance of Irish mothers, their tough harshness and the effect on their children. The interaction between Maureen O'Hara and John Candy is very effective here.
The film has a great deal of sentiment, is popular glossy entertainment - but quite effective in its way.
1. The work of Chris Columbus, writing and directing? John Hughes and his themes? The focus on Chicago, families?
2. The world of the Chicago Irish, apartments, church, pubs? The contrast with the world of the Italians?
3. The title, the song? The musical score and songs?
4. The theme of the Irish, family, dominant mother, lifestyle, prejudices and telling things as they are?
5. John Candy's portrait of Danny, his screen presence, size? 38? Still alone? Living with his mother? Her dominance, his wanting to go to the match and her tantrum about bingo? His being the victim of her telling it as it is? The police, his best friend, their working together? Taking bodies to the morgue - and the touches of humour, farce, the corpse being lowered by the hydrant hose? His relationship with his brother, nieces and nephews? Going to the pub, the old men, the bachelors, their talk? His life - and its prospects?
6. Maureen O'Hara as Rose, her screen presence, strength and beauty? The widow? Her relationship with her husband - and Danny's exposing her harshness towards her husband, especially in telling things as they are? Ruining his chance of a contract? Its effect on him? Her being blind? The old men at the pub, their memories? Her talking about Danny and girls, her disdain for Theresa: Italian, her work, mocking her, the meal, her breasts? Her declaring "nothing" in criticism about her? Her comment on the stupid Polack woman? Her being hurt, the moving to Florida, the pressure on Danny? Danny and the confrontation and his telling the truth about his father? Her change of heart, claiming Theresa as a daughter? The aftermath, the wedding, the encounter with Nick? Her finally deciding to leave, travel? The future with Nick? (And the ironies of Danny's fantasies - and her falling down the manhole, her being mugged, her being hijacked - and controlling the hijackers?)
7. Theresa, Italian background, her work, the corpses and the television, Clark Gable and Jimmy Durante? Her bond with her father? The awkwardness of meeting Danny? The attraction? Her awkwardness and shyness? Accepting the date, on the baseball field? Walking with Danny, Danny and his phobias and fantasies? The meetings with Danny, the meal and its failure, her staying the night? Her being hurt at the meal by Rose, walking out? Wanting Danny to stand up for her? His elaborate proposal, the preparation for the wedding? The ceremony itself, her not going? Going back to work, meeting Danny again? His promise to her - leaving his mother? A future together?
8. Danny and his breaking free of his mother, the attraction towards Theresa, taking her out, the baseball field? The meal and his mother's rudeness? Not standing up for Theresa? His going to buy the suit - and its cost? Spending the night with Theresa - and getting Nick to keep an eye out and tell a lie? Rose's early return, the pretence and getting Theresa out of the house? Working with Sal, talking things over? The death of the old man, the wake? The wedding - the build-up, the tension - no wedding? His final decision, confronting his mother, the happy ending?
9. Nick as the genial neighbour, the Greek background, helping out, the celebrations for Danny and Theresa, proposing the toast? His flirting with Rose, her disdain? Telling the lie for Danny? The ticket - and the romance on the plane?
10. The old men, their Irish background, the talk, their alleged freedom, bachelors? Danny's future?
11. The contrast with Sal, the Italians, free and easy? Concerned about sex? Their work, the body with the hydrant hose?
12. The contrast with Danny's brother, success, avoiding looking after his mother, leaving everything to Danny? The party and the celebration? His criticism of Theresa and Danny punching him?
13. Portrait of American families, relationships, domination, pressure, ethnic prejudices, humour?
