CS Weekly Archive > DVD of the Day > 04/04/05

Anything Beyond the Title's Irrelevant

by scott castle

Screenplay by Stirling Silliphant
Based on the novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Charly (Cliff Robertson) is a developmentally challenged janitor working in a bread factory until his remedial English teacher (Claire Bloom) offers him a chance to be something more. A team of neurosurgeons alter Charly's brain chemistry, yielding a genius IQ and -- for Charly -- a whole new world. Based on the novel Flowers for Algernon, Charly rigorously focuses on the plight of the title character to the detriment of the supporting characters. Whereas Charly's intellectual ascent is carefully chronicled by the narrative, ancillary plot points are reduced to simplistic scenes that could have been better developed to allow greater insight. Charly's romance with his teacher is the leanest love story portrayed on film, while the researches of Charly's benefactors seem nonexistent throughout the bulk of the film. These omissions aside, the primary thrust of the tale is well constructed and Charly's fate carries with it the full weight of cinematic tragedy.

Charly
MGM
Rated PG; 104 min.
$14.95

Buy it now for only $11.96 (save 20%)

Scott Castle is one thesis shy of a master's degree in film. He's written two short films, four television scripts, and a handful of short stories. He lives in Los Angeles.

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