Die Frau seines Herzens

Perhaps it was the fact she'd already received three nominations. She would eventual be nominated for 8, putting her in 8th place behind only Streep, Hepburn, Nicholson, Davis, Olivier, Newman and Tracy which is pretty impressive territory! She would win one. Or perhaps it was just the strong year for actresses with Sophia Loren in "Marriage Italian Style", Anne Bancroft in "The Pumpkin Eater", Kim Stanley in "Séance on a Wet Afternoon", Debbie Reynolds in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", or eventual winner Julie Andrews in "Mary Poppins", but I believe Geraldine Page's performance here is the equal of any 1964 female film performance. Her character Evie is one of the most sympathetic ever recorded and Page's expert portrayal captures the hearts of the audience. Along for the ride is the vastly underrated Glenn Ford and the always watchable Barbara Nichols. Too bad we didn't see more of her along with contemporaries Hope Holiday and Sue Ann Langdon. I wish there was more on this site about all three. "Dear Heart" was not intended as a blockbuster and as 1960s films go, it was more or less a "B" picture. But the film features excellent writing, a believable storyline, excellent performances, and a captivating score by Henry Mancini.

The lives of a woman and man intersect at a New York hotel in this sentimental story from 1964. Glenn Ford plays Harry Mork, a traveling salesman who has decided to slow down and settle down after years of schmoozing, boozing and extracurricular intrigues. Geraldine Page plays Evie Jackson, a small-town postal worker who annually visits the big cities for the industry convention and a chance to let loose a little and take in the sights.

Evie is the person who has never met a stranger. Outwardly she is an eternal optimist and delights in knowing everyone's names, as if that knowledge makes them friends. Under the surface, though, she might be "Miss Lonelyhearts" from Hitchcock's "Rear Window" in a few years, if her life situation doesn't resolve into a satisfactory conclusion. Ms. Page's portrayal of Evie is so fascinating that she dominates the film. Frankly, my attention is always riveted to the screen when this film plays, even though I know how it turns out. As others have pointed out, this is a performance worthy of an Oscar.

The screenplay is very well written, allowing the viewer to observe every aspect of the characters, learning their way of life, their fears, and even their hidden dreams. The acting is good across the board. The end result is very satisfying, especially for viewers who can identify with the emotional vulnerability of the two main characters.

A lonely and single woman look for love and companionship in New York City at a postmasters' convention. This sweet film brought tears to my eyes watching it. Dear Heart was wonderfully acted by Geraldine Page, Glenn Ford, and Angela Lansbury. It was a delight to watch.

Gentle, delightful film of greeting card salesman Glenn Ford who happens to meet ditzy postmaster Geraldine Page during a New York convention. Great character development, superb direction (by Delbert Mann), memorable score (Henry Mancini), luminous B&W cinematography all contribute to a great movie experience. Ford and especially Page are at the top of their games here. Great support from Angela Lansbury, Ken Lynch, Richard Deacon, and other notable character actors. Final reunion scene at Grand Central Station is truly poignant. Too bad these movies are extremely scarce nowadays. Catch it if you remember 1964 and want to watch a film without explosions, violence, or foul language.

I don't know about Chimale1025's claim that "Children under 35" won't enjoy it unless they are exceptionally mature, but I am currently in my mid-20s and have loved this film since I saw it on TCM in my early 20's. Then again, many of my favorite films deal with the loneliness of not quite fitting in to society's big picture.

This is a lovely story of two lonely people who find each other at just the right time, and the growing closeness between the two forces them to look at their lives more clearly and see what they really want out of life. The title song by Mancini is rather cloying and irritating, but I can overlook that for the wonderful performances by Ford and Page. Lansbury is also quite good as the supposed shrew and "tomato", but even she is not entirely unsympathetic in the end. She is also lonely, you see.

Anyone who has been truly lonely or is sympathetic to that position will react emotionally to this film. True, it is a little dated, but that is a large part of its charm for the innocence and hope that fills it. Definitely worth a look, and hopefully it will appear on DVD soon enough!