The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

 The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne 1987

• Director: Jack Clayton
• Seen by this director: Room at the Top
• Based on the novel by Brian Moore.
• Cast: Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins, Wendy Hiller, Marie Keane, Ian McNiece, Rudi Davies, Prunella Scales, Sheila Reid
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey, The Lady in the Van, Hotel Marigold 1&2, My Old Lady, The Quartet, Harry Potter et al, From Time to Time, Becoming Jane, Keeping Mum, Ladies in Lavender, Gosford Park, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, David Copperfield, Tea with Mussolini, First Wives’ Club, Richard III, Sister Act 1&2, Hook, A Room with a View, Quartet (the earlier one), Love and Pain and the Whole Damned Thing, Oh What a Lovely War, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,
• Bob Hoskins – Made in Dagenham, Doomsday, Sparkle, Paris je t’aime, Mrs Henderson Presents, Last Orders, David Copperfield, Felicia’s Journey, Hook, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Brazil, Othello, Rock Follies
• Wendy Hiller – A Comedy of Error, The Elephant Man, Richard II, Voyage of the Damned, A Man for All Seasons, Pygmalion
• Marie Keane – Macbeth, The Girl with Green Eyes
• Ian McNiece – Doctor Who, Valkyria, From Hell, A Life Less Ordinary, An Englishman Who Went Up a Hill and Came Down a Mountain, 84 Charing Cross Road
• Prunella Scales – Howards Inn, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Fawlty Towers
• Sheila Reid – Humans, Doctor Who, Case Histories, Bones, Felicia’s Journey, Still Crazy, The Winter Guest, The Dresser
• Why? Maggie Smith.
• Seen: 24 September 2021.

      Aging Judith Hearne (Smith) moves into a new bed-sit. She promises the photo of her dear aunt D’Arcy (Hiller) and picture of Jesus that this place will be better than the last. She meets the other boarders and the smiley, talkative but nasty landlady Mae (Keane), and her brother James (Hoskins), just returned from his years in New York. Judith is thrilled with the idea of NY.

       She gives private piano lessons but loses one client after another because of earlier scandals.

       She develops a passion for James. They’re both losers but they both have dreams. His don’t match hers and she finds no solace in her Aunt D’Arcy or Jesus. Only in the whisky bottles she hides in her cupboard.

       So depressing! But what dignity and integrity Judith Hearne possesses. And so beautifully performed by the incomparable Dame Maggie.      

5* of 5