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The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

Play trailer Poster for The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne R 1987 1h 56m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 75% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Lonely spinster Judith Hearne (Maggie Smith) teaches piano and lives in a depressing boarding house in Dublin. Her life changes when she meets James Madden (Bob Hoskins), the enterprising brother of the owner. She quickly falls for him and, against all expectation, finds her love returned. As their romance develops, Judith becomes truly happy for the first time in her life. But, when it dawns on her that James has ulterior motives for pursuing their relationship, her world comes crashing down.

Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 09/15/2023
Maggie Smith lets you read every shade of feeling in Judith Hearne’s face. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 03/26/2009
An ensemble of sterling performances highlights The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, an intelligent, carefully crafted adaptation of Brian Moore’s well-regarded first novel. Go to Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post 01/01/2000
What you remember are not his images, but the performances, intermingled with screenwriter Peter Nelson's world of dire, almost comical loneliness (adapted from Brian Moore's novel). Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/25/2005
4/5
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice 07/19/2003
Top-drawer screen interpretation of Brian Moore's 1955 novel about the spiritual crisis of a middle-aged woman. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alexandre-Miguel B Feb 1 Brilliantly painted Sartrian hopelessness of 20th century neuroticism, mean spiteful hell human can be to each other. Maggie Smith is outstanding in her rendition. At the bottom of Pandora's box there's a bit of hope left in the nurse's smile. See more Alec B 10/06/2024 An extremely uncomfortable viewing experience because we fear that one day we could become Ms. Hearne or at least suspect that we've been cruel to someone like her (like just about every other character here). This one of Smith's best performances, heartbreaking and real. See more 05/03/2014 By Brian Moore, not William Trevor. Sorry. See more 11/09/2010 A powerful film although I do not agree with the conclusion drawn by Judith Hearne in the final scene. See more 06/28/2010 A little known gem with another amazing performance from Maggie Smith. 1930's Dublin is faithfully recreated in a film full of tragedy, some laughter and ultimately optimism. See more 01/20/2010 A period piece yes but at least a period piece that is interesting to view. Isn't it the same old story? The spinster who's life is put into question with the introduction of a suitor? Of course the suitor isn't all that he is cracked up to be and drama unfolds. See more Read all reviews
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

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Cast & Crew

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Jack Clayton

Director

Maggie Smith

Judith Hearne

Bob Hoskins

James Madden

Wendy Hiller

Aunt D'Arcy

Marie Kean

Mrs. Rice

Ian McNeice

Bernard Rice

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The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987) The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987) The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987) The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Lonely spinster Judith Hearne (Maggie Smith) teaches piano and lives in a depressing boarding house in Dublin. Her life changes when she meets James Madden (Bob Hoskins), the enterprising brother of the owner. She quickly falls for him and, against all expectation, finds her love returned. As their romance develops, Judith becomes truly happy for the first time in her life. But, when it dawns on her that James has ulterior motives for pursuing their relationship, her world comes crashing down.
Director
Jack Clayton
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 23, 1987, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA)
$82.7K
Runtime
1h 56m