Charly (1968)

71% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(3,621 ratings)

In 1961, Cliff Robertson starred in The Two Worlds of Charley Gordon, a TV adaptation of Daniel Keyes' story Flowers for Algernon. Determined not to lose out on the film version of this play as he'd done with Days of Wine and Roses, Robertson bought up the movie rights to Keyes' story so that he and… More In 1961, Cliff Robertson starred in The Two Worlds of Charley Gordon, a TV adaptation of Daniel Keyes' story Flowers for Algernon. Determined not to lose out on the film version of this play as he'd done with Days of Wine and Roses, Robertson bought up the movie rights to Keyes' story so that he and he alone would star. This determination paid off in the form of the Best Actor Academy Award for Robertson in 1968. The star plays Charly, a 30-year-old mentally retarded bakery worker. Neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Nemur (Leon Janney) and psychiatrist Dr. Anna Straus (Lilia Skala) approach Charly and ask him to participate in an experiment. Previously, Dr. Nemur was able to accelerate the intelligence of a mouse named Algernon by performing a radical new form of brain surgery; could not such a procedure work on a human being? As a result, Charly not only achieves normal intelligence, but also becomes a genius. Emboldened by his new mental status, Charly proposes marriage to his very receptive special-ed teacher (Claire Bloom). Alas, Charly notices that Algernon has begun to regress, and he reasons that he also will return to his old developmentally challenged state. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 55 min.
Directed By: Ralph Nelson
Written By: Stirling Silliphant
Genres: Drama, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Theaters: Sep 23, 1968 Wide
On DVD: Mar 8, 2005

Critic Reviews

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.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
As the story of a personality in crisis, it works.
Michael Scheinfeld, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The film's main problem is that director Ralph Nelson virtually ignores the philosophical elements of the story and emphasizes its most maudlin aspects, while throwing in a little sci-fi, romance, and spurious social commentary.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Cliff Robertson was rewarded with an Oscar for repeating his TV role, that of a mentally retarded man, and for paying with his own money for the screen adaptation of the popular novel, directed in a pedestrian mode by Ralph Nelson.
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
This moving film is the crowning achievement of Cliff Robertson's career.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...the fact that the majority of Charly feels utterly superfluous.
David Bezanson, Filmcritic.com
another example of a memorable book which ends up diluted by the lesser talents of screenwriters
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
This unassuming film stays fairly close to the novel as it tells a simple story of a simple man who wanted to be more.
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
Well-acted drama about a retarded man who is turned into a genius in a scientific experiment and then regresses to his original state again.
Staci Layne Wilson, StaciWilson.com
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Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

I enjoyed the book Flowers for Algernon when I read it in grade school, but seeing it on the screen was a disappointing experience. They changed things for the worse, and the actors were bad, and they had some weird psychedelic stuff in there. I wouldn't recommend seeing this… More
I enjoyed the book Flowers for Algernon when I read it in grade school, but seeing it on the screen was a disappointing experience. They changed things for the worse, and the actors were bad, and they had some weird psychedelic stuff in there. I wouldn't recommend seeing this movie.
Curtis L

REALLY corny, but sweet. And a neat look at what it would be like to go from retarded to a genus, and then have to give it all up and become even more retarded.
Byron B

I had to read this book in school and then I think we watched the remake. This original is very good too, though more psychedelic.