The Hasty Heart (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'The Hasty Heart', directed by Vincent Sherman & based on a stage play, is one of those little-known treasures that I nearly didn't see, but am sure glad that I did. At a Red Cross hospital in Burma in 1945, 5 patients remain after the rest are sent home at the end of the war. These five - an American called "Yank" (Ronald Reagan); an African who speaks no English called "Blossom"; a friendly Australian called "Digger"; a chubby Englishman called "Tommy"; and a New Zealander called "Kiwi" - are told by Col. Dunn that they will be joined by "Lachie" McLachlen (Richard Todd), a Scot who recently underwent emergency surgery, has only one operating kidney, & will soon die of uremic poisoning. The colonel asks these 5 men to befriend Lachie, keep him contented, & never tell him his fate.
The men agree to it, but when Lachie arrives, he rebuffs the men's efforts to be friendly. When Sister Margaret (Patricia Neal) learns that Lachie has invested his $$ in "buying a farm" that he intends to work when he returns to Scotland, she unsuccessfully tries to convince him to use some of his $$ to buy a kilt. He continues to be suspicious of all who attempt to be friends with him, & remains standoff-ish/cantankerous to all. Still, even when everyone becomes angered/saddened by their fruitless efforts to befriend Lachie, Sister Margaret plans a party for his 24th birthday. She bought him a kilt, & the men all contribute items for the uniform. Lachie's hardened heart is FINALLY moved by the gifts, but he is worried that he won't be able to return their kindness.
The very next day, Lachie dresses up in his kilt & the men try very, very hard, with no success, to find out if Scottish men wear anything underneath them {VERY humorous scene}. Later, Lachie summons the confidence to ask Sister Margaret - who is quite fond of the Scot - for her hand in marriage! Understandably indecisive & distressed, she accepts; mostly to make him happy in his final days/weeks. Drama ensues when Lachie inadvertently discovers the truth about his health and violently turns against his newfound friends. But before the film's final moments, fate steps in, & friendship wins out over self-pity & bitterness.
What a lovely, lovely movie -- I just loved it. This has to be one of the most sensitive films I've seen in a long time; sensitive about the subject matter, sensitive about the characters, sensitive about their treatment, & sensitive how the narrative plays out. Ronald Reagan gives a great performance as all-American "Yank", the leader, so to speak, of the 5 male patients. He's charming, an "everyman", yet also tough -- with softness around the edges. The interactions btwn. Reagan & the rest of the cast bring a nice dynamic to the proceedings. Patricia Neal is outstanding as the compassionate Sister Margaret -- it's easy to see why Lachie (and "Yank", for that matter) falls for her. Neal was only 22 when this film was made. She had a rough life, so I'm glad she also got to have a long & fruitful career.
But best of all is handsome Irishman Richard Todd who plays the insufferable, yet doomed Scot soldier. You kinda hate him early on, but when he softens, boy ... you just really feel for the poor guy. Really, this film is all about one man's battle with self-pity and/or self-inflicted loneliness. He's all alone in the world, refuses to let people in, then finally lets his guard down; and just in time. And sad as the story is, it's also a celebration of the human condition. There's something about 'The Hasty Heart' that really grabbed me. It has a quiet, cumulative power. And though we know Lachie's fate, it's good that the film ends on a warm, humorous note. 'The Hasty Heart' is the kind of movie that could make you laugh & make you cry within the same scene, and it may bring a tear to even the most cynical eyes.
The men agree to it, but when Lachie arrives, he rebuffs the men's efforts to be friendly. When Sister Margaret (Patricia Neal) learns that Lachie has invested his $$ in "buying a farm" that he intends to work when he returns to Scotland, she unsuccessfully tries to convince him to use some of his $$ to buy a kilt. He continues to be suspicious of all who attempt to be friends with him, & remains standoff-ish/cantankerous to all. Still, even when everyone becomes angered/saddened by their fruitless efforts to befriend Lachie, Sister Margaret plans a party for his 24th birthday. She bought him a kilt, & the men all contribute items for the uniform. Lachie's hardened heart is FINALLY moved by the gifts, but he is worried that he won't be able to return their kindness.
The very next day, Lachie dresses up in his kilt & the men try very, very hard, with no success, to find out if Scottish men wear anything underneath them {VERY humorous scene}. Later, Lachie summons the confidence to ask Sister Margaret - who is quite fond of the Scot - for her hand in marriage! Understandably indecisive & distressed, she accepts; mostly to make him happy in his final days/weeks. Drama ensues when Lachie inadvertently discovers the truth about his health and violently turns against his newfound friends. But before the film's final moments, fate steps in, & friendship wins out over self-pity & bitterness.
What a lovely, lovely movie -- I just loved it. This has to be one of the most sensitive films I've seen in a long time; sensitive about the subject matter, sensitive about the characters, sensitive about their treatment, & sensitive how the narrative plays out. Ronald Reagan gives a great performance as all-American "Yank", the leader, so to speak, of the 5 male patients. He's charming, an "everyman", yet also tough -- with softness around the edges. The interactions btwn. Reagan & the rest of the cast bring a nice dynamic to the proceedings. Patricia Neal is outstanding as the compassionate Sister Margaret -- it's easy to see why Lachie (and "Yank", for that matter) falls for her. Neal was only 22 when this film was made. She had a rough life, so I'm glad she also got to have a long & fruitful career.
But best of all is handsome Irishman Richard Todd who plays the insufferable, yet doomed Scot soldier. You kinda hate him early on, but when he softens, boy ... you just really feel for the poor guy. Really, this film is all about one man's battle with self-pity and/or self-inflicted loneliness. He's all alone in the world, refuses to let people in, then finally lets his guard down; and just in time. And sad as the story is, it's also a celebration of the human condition. There's something about 'The Hasty Heart' that really grabbed me. It has a quiet, cumulative power. And though we know Lachie's fate, it's good that the film ends on a warm, humorous note. 'The Hasty Heart' is the kind of movie that could make you laugh & make you cry within the same scene, and it may bring a tear to even the most cynical eyes.