The Hasty Heart

Released Dec 2, 1949

1h 39m

Drama

List

Reviews

73%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

On the last day of World War II, Scottish soldier Lachlan MacLachlan (Richard Todd) is shot in the lower back and needs to be treated at the local medical unit in Burma before he can return home. His stay is lengthened, however, and when his nurse (Patricia Neal) asks why, she learns that his wound is fatal. With the help of an American patient (Ronald Reagan), the staff and other patients at the hospital try to make the Scot's final days happy. But things get ugly when he learns the truth.

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Ronald Reagan and Patricia Neal are fine, but the real news is Richard Todd, who is handsome and convincing as the Scot.

Jul 25, 2019

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Elsa Branden

Photoplay

John Patrick's memorable stage play serves as the springboard for an enormously effective picture. It's a study in human relations fraught with compassion and interspersed with shafts of humor.

Rated: 2.5/3

Nov 30, 2021

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Richard Todd received an Oscar nomination for playing an obnoxious patient in an rmy hopsital who suffers from fatal illness

Rated: B

Aug 13, 2011

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Sharon S

I first watched this film in my teens and it has stayed with me all these years later. Ronald Reagan and Patricia Neal were good but Richard Todd is superb as the Scot. The emotion of the proud Scot realising that friendship is not always bought and deceitful, still bought tears.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/30/23

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Mark A

It will make you shed tears.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/03/23

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steve d

The entire thing rests on Todd's shoulders and he does a great job.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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s r

A sentimental war drama where a cold heart is turned.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

I’m 61 and truly appreciate the movies from the silent films to the current films. I had never heard of The Hasty Heart and just watched it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and wondered if it had been Oscar nominated at all because before it was over I felt it was deserving. Turns out it was given a best supporting actor nomination for the “Scott’s” performance. This movie will tug on your heartstrings. If it doesn’t, you have no heart. Thank you TCM.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/30/18

Full Review

Audience Member

An interesting (if slightly morbid) idea for a movie, but as most families had loved ones in the 1940's military the timing was apropos. Neal & Reagan play slight variations of their normal on-screen personas, with a decent cast. Otherwise a typical studio piece.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

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Vincent Sherman

Director

Ronald Reagan

Yank

Patricia Neal

Sister Margaret Parker

Richard Todd

Cpl. Lachlan `'Lachie'` MacLachlan

Anthony Nicholls

Lieutenant Colonel Dunn

Howard Marion-Crawford

Tommy

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Synopsis

On the last day of World War II, Scottish soldier Lachlan MacLachlan (Richard Todd) is shot in the lower back and needs to be treated at the local medical unit in Burma before he can return home. His stay is lengthened, however, and when his nurse (Patricia Neal) asks why, she learns that his wound is fatal. With the help of an American patient (Ronald Reagan), the staff and other patients at the hospital try to make the Scot's final days happy. But things get ugly when he learns the truth.

Director: Vincent Sherman
Screenwriter: Ranald MacDougall
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre: Drama
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 2, 1949, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 23, 2017
Runtime: 1h 39m

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