Hear My Song

R

1991

1 hr. 44 min.

Romance

Comedy

List

90%

31 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Nightclub owner Mickey O'Neill (Adrian Dunbar), a fast-talking charmer, has figured out a way to save his financial sinkhole of a business: book famous Irish tenor Josef Locke (William Hootkins) for a performance. There are several major problems, however -- Locke has been in exile for years and the man O'Neill has been in contact with is a con artist. O'Neill's reputation is destroyed, but, when the real Locke (Ned Beatty) shows up to perform, his luck may turn for the better.

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john w

They don't make them like this anymore, that old adage has never been more apt, sit back and enjoy this charming and delightful story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/24/23

Full Review

isla s

This is very much a sentimental, cheesy film but I enjoyed it for it's light hearted nature and the cast members, including Adrian 'Ted hastings' Dunbar and James 'Lucky Man' Nesbitt. It has the feel of a TV film about it but its very much Sunday evening TV territory. A bit of silly fun and no more, this is an ok film that may make you smile and I'd recommend it on that basis. The ending is particularly daft.Its all pretty daft and I'm not sure I followed the story properly - I may watch it again but primarily to see the aforementioned cast again. This isn't really a particularly clever film or anything but its certainly amusing never the less, so I suppsoe I'd recommend it only on that basis.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

Not cute and really unlikable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my all-time favourites. Sheer delight from start to finish.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Disgraced promoter searches for lost tenor on the lam for tax evasion to make up for booking a fraud. This one has 'critic's choice' written all over it. In the end, it's a story of redemption-for the promoter and the tenor-and a film that redeems itself after a relatively slow start.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The directorial debut of Peter Chelsom, who later went on to direct comedies like Funny Bones (1995), Serendipity (2001) and Shall We Dance? (2004). This is a charming and warmly funny fable which was based on the absence of a real life singer, this is a very charming film with a lot of heart and good humour, as well as some good performances. It still stands the test of time these days, and it's a joy to watch. In the Irish part of Liverpool, nightclub owner Micky O'Neill (Adrian Dunbar) is struggling to get any good acts for the punters, but when he learns that he can get reclusive Irish tenor Josef Locke (Ned Beatty) to appear, Micky promotes this one to high heavens. However, it turns out the Locke he booked is a fake going around as Mr. X (William Hootkins). This causes Micky to lose the night club and his girlfriend Nancy (Tara Fitzgerald). But, it sparks determination inside him, and Micky travels to Ireland to find the real Josef Locke, who has hid away in Ireland since the 1950's for tax reasons, but he won't give in, and he plans to bring Locke back to Liverpool, and win everything back. This is a film cut from similar cloth to the old Ealing Comedies and even Local Hero (1983), which has a lot of sly humour, good dialogue and a lot of local heart. It's also a bit of a road movie at one point, it's a shame Chelsom hasn't done anything as good as this.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Peter Chelsom

Director

Ned Beatty

Josef Locke

Adrian Dunbar

Micky O'Neill

Shirley Anne Field

Cathleen Doyle

David McCallum

Jim Abbott

Tara Fitzgerald

Nancy Doyle

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Genuine escapism may be the true lost art of movies, which is all the more reason to celebrate the unexpected charm of the English/Irish comedy Hear My Song.

Feb 6, 2018

Full Review

Angie Errigo

Empire Magazine

Completely disarming and absolutely delicious.

Rated: 4/5

May 16, 2015

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

A thoroughly original romantic comedy.

Rated: 3/4

May 16, 2015

Full Review

Joe Leydon

The Moving Picture Show

With a strut to its walk and a lilt to its talk, and a crafty bit of whimsy up its sleeve, "Hear My Song" is a gloriously loony and exhilaratingly romantic comedy.

Jun 14, 2021

Full Review

Hal Lipper

Tampa Bay Times

Hear My Song is sprinkled with fairy dust. It's an enjoyable romantic fantasy with wonderful comic bits.

Mar 31, 2020

Full Review

Vanessa Letts

The Spectator

I hated Hear My Song all the way through.

Jul 23, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

Nightclub owner Mickey O'Neill (Adrian Dunbar), a fast-talking charmer, has figured out a way to save his financial sinkhole of a business: book famous Irish tenor Josef Locke (William Hootkins) for a performance. There are several major problems, however -- Locke has been in exile for years and the man O'Neill has been in contact with is a con artist. O'Neill's reputation is destroyed, but, when the real Locke (Ned Beatty) shows up to perform, his luck may turn for the better.

Director: Peter Chelsom
Executive Producer: John Paul Chapple, Simon Fields, Russ Russell
Screenwriter: Peter Chelsom
Production Co: Miramax
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 12, 2021
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.0M
Sound Mix: Surround

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