Charly

PG

Released Nov 23, 1968

1h 46m

Fantasy

List

55%

Tomatometer

20 Reviews

62%

Audience Score

2,500+ Ratings

Charly Gordon (Cliff Robertson), who has an IQ of 69, is constantly derided by his boss and fellow employees at the bakery where he works. His efforts to read and write prove fruitless. But when Dr. Straus (Lilia Skala) offers Charly an opportunity to participate in a radical medical experiment, he becomes a certified genius. The newly educated Charly develops feelings for his teacher, Alice Kinian (Claire Bloom), but their happiness is threatened by an unforeseen complication.

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Variety Staff

Variety

Instead of frittering away time on an unmotivated romance, it would have been interesting if the reasons for this psychologically complicated affair were explored.

Jun 13, 2019

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Dec 21, 2005

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

I'm told by someone whose opinion I respect that the novel was very moving and very sad. The movie is not. It's science-fiction without gadgets, a horror film without thrills.

Rated: 1.5/5

May 9, 2005

Full Review

KC Star Staff

Kansas City Star

The film -- pretentiously directed by Ralph Nelson from a glib script by Stirling Silliphant -- is really a sci-fi soap opera posing as something significant.

Mar 2, 2022

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Michael Kostelnuk

Winnipeg Free Press

The makers of Charly have degraded that serious theme to the level of scifi soap opera -- a breach of taste and discretion that I find simply appalling;

Aug 19, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Several sequences are risible (Charly as a surly biker?), the romance is scarcely believable, and the use of split-screen quickly grows wearying.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 8, 2019

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steve d

Cliff Robertson is the reason this melodrama works.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

"What do you see in th[e] world?... [Asked to describe the things in the world as he sees them, as asked since his intelligence is new to the world.] Modern Science? C: Rampant technology, conscience by computer. Modern art? C: Dispassionate draftsmen. Foreign policy? C: Brave new weapons. Today's youth? C: Joyless, guide-less. Today's religion? C: Preachment by popularity poll. Standard of living? C: A TV in every room. Education? C: A TV in every room. The world's future Mr. Gordon? C: Brave new hates, brave new bombs, brave new wars. The coming generation? C: Test tube conception, laboratory birth, TV education, brave new dreams, brave new hates, brave new wars, a beautifully purposeless process of society suicide." Prophetic or what? The best visual scene, Charly's adolescence, follows the worst scene where Charly tries to force his teacher sexually. I think people particularly are wanting to hate on the fact that she likes him after his adolescence even though he attempted to sexually assault her, but I think the film was trying to say that she already was conflicted about her feelings for him up to that point already, he was not yet socially mature enough to understand the ramifications of his actions, and once he was back and emotionally matured she could accept him. Don't know if that is especially healthy, but it fits the narrative to make it at least plausible. The film has a number of cheesy moments and is a bit too forgiving of bad behavior and treatment of others, but it's philosophical questions are amazing. Would it be right to give genius intellect to someone just so they can have it stripped away a year later? Are minors responsible for their actions even though they are only responding to hormones through a lack of experience? What if you could see the world outside of your own biases to see things as they really are? Is the way that we treat those that are disabled appropriate and courteous? These are all well addressed by the film, and the character of Charly is very intriguing, despite the less than interesting side characters of the film. Even the correlations to Charly being a lab's guinea pig are handled pretty well. His fear at the end of losing his intelligence was perfectly addressed and terrifying, and the score was great. Saw this first in pieces throughout the years, and I'm glad I finally got to see it all the way through.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

jona i

Not as impactful as it intends, but it has its few moments.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Works fine enough and Robertson is good. Doesn't come close to capturing the novel, though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Charly (1968) C-103m. ??? 1/2 D: Ralph Nelson. Cliff Robertson, Claire Bloom, Lilia Skala, Ruth White, Dick Van Patten. Beautiful performance by Robertson as retarded man becoming genius after scientific experiment; he learns about romance and falls for his teacher Bloom. Based on the famous short story Flowers For Algernon by Daniel Keyes. I prefer the original story ending but otherwise terrific film. Robertson won Oscar.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

To this day, Cliff Robertson gave hands down the most heartwarming and relatable performance than any other actor would from the 1900s.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Ralph Nelson

Director

Cliff Robertson

Charly Gordon

Claire Bloom

Alice Kinian

Lilia Skala

Dr. Anna Straus

Leon Janney

Dr. Richard Nemur

Dick Van Patten

Bert

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Synopsis

Charly Gordon (Cliff Robertson), who has an IQ of 69, is constantly derided by his boss and fellow employees at the bakery where he works. His efforts to read and write prove fruitless. But when Dr. Straus (Lilia Skala) offers Charly an opportunity to participate in a radical medical experiment, he becomes a certified genius. The newly educated Charly develops feelings for his teacher, Alice Kinian (Claire Bloom), but their happiness is threatened by an unforeseen complication.

Director: Ralph Nelson
Distributor: Cinerama Releasing Corporation [us]
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 23, 1968, Original
Release Date (DVD): Mar 8, 2005
Runtime: 1h 46m