Charly 1968

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Charly Gordon (Cliff Robertson), a gentle soul with a childlike enthusiasm for life, spends his days playing freely among children on the playground and learning diligently at night school under the guidance of Mrs. Alice Kinnian (Claire Bloom). When Mrs. Kinnian invites Charly to participate in a groundbreaking study at a research clinic, he is hesitant but ultimately agrees, unaware that scientists are observing him from behind a two-way mirror as he navigates logic tests.

Charly resides in a humble, sparsely furnished apartment above the home of his landlady, Mrs. Apple (Ruth White), who treats him with caution and care. Each day, he meticulously outlines his plans on a small chalkboard and toils away at a local bakery, sweeping floors and enduring good-natured teasing from his coworkers, led by Gimpy (Edward McNally). Charly remains oblivious to the jokes directed at him.

The next day, Mrs. Kinnian returns Charly to the laboratory, where he engages in an intriguing competition with a mouse named Algernon, who has undergone a special operation to enhance its intelligence. As Algernon solves a maze more quickly than Charly, Mrs. Kinnian drives him home and asks to visit his apartment, which is surprisingly plain. Her landlady expresses concern that Charly may be taking advantage of her hospitality. Mrs. Kinnian then reveals to Charly that Algernon’s remarkable abilities are the result of a unique surgical procedure, and she poses the question: would he like to experience similar cognitive enhancements?

As Charly deliberates, Mrs. Kinnian consults with Dr. Straus (Lilia Skala), a psychologist, and Dr. Nemur (Leon Janney), a surgeon, about his qualifications for the procedure. Initially skeptical due to Charly’s age, they are eventually persuaded by his eagerness and good nature to proceed with the operation.

Charly spends his free time exploring the city on a tour bus and attempting to learn new things. His friends Hank (Barney Martin), Joey (William Dwyer), and Gimpy take him to Paddy’s (Dan Morgan) bar, where they continue to play pranks on him, leaving Charly feeling dejected. It is there that Mrs. Kinnian finds him, bearing the news that his operation has been approved. Overjoyed, Charly returns to the playground, where he swings freely once more.

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The day after the operation, Charly (Charly) slowly regains consciousness, but his mental faculties seem unaffected, leaving him still outsmarted by Algernon in their maze test. Seething with frustration, he storms off to release pent-up energy, first indulging in a thrilling ride on bumper cars and later letting off steam at his apartment. However, upon returning home, he’s taken aback to find Algernon occupying his space, prompting an outburst of anger directed at the ape. Mrs. Apple attempts to soothe him by highlighting the blessings of pet ownership.

As Charly’s cognitive abilities begin to improve, he finally bests Algernon in a maze competition, marking a turning point in their relationship. Under Alice’s continued tutelage, Charly becomes more discerning and starts to develop romantic feelings towards her. His coworkers try to trip him up by assigning him complex bakery tasks, but he proves surprisingly adept, leaving Gimpy uneasy about the potential threat to his job.

Charly begins to notice Alice’s femininity, while she grows increasingly uncomfortable with his advances. She confides in Dr. Straus that she wishes to leave the program, prompting concerns from Charly and Alice alike.

As Charly matures further, he’s eventually fired from the bakery due to his newfound intelligence rendering him an outcast among his former colleagues. Alice advises him that growth can be a painful process. Meanwhile, Dr. Nemur advocates for pushing Charly’s education forward, while Dr. Straus believes he needs to develop emotionally first.

Charly becomes reckless, indulging in thrill-seeking activities like motorcycle riding and partying, ultimately returning home to find Alice waiting for him, sensing that he has transcended his earlier immaturity. They begin a romantic relationship, and Charly asks her to marry him. After a blissful vacation, they return to the seminar to present their groundbreaking findings on the “Algernon-Gordon” effect.

At the seminar, Drs. Nemur and Straus display Charly’s original test footage from backstage as he watches in anticipation. When Charly takes the stage, he answers questions about what is and what will be. Turning to the audience, he asks a poignant question about his own future, leaving them silent. Haunted by visions of his former self, Charly flees the seminar, forever changed by the realization that the operation’s effects are only temporary, and that Algernon’s fate serves as a cautionary tale.

As the evening wears on at the local watering hole, a peculiar scene unfolds. A besotted busboy, afflicted with mental impairments, is mercilessly teased by the patrons, their mocking laughter echoing off the walls. However, it’s Charly (played by Bruce Dern) who takes center stage, silencing the room with an unexpected display of quiet competence as he effortlessly assists the beleaguered boy. This impromptu demonstration of intelligence and compassion not only quiets the crowd but also underscores the profound disparity between Charly’s extraordinary mental faculties and his physical limitations.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, the medical team and Alice (played by Felicia Dones) engage in a heated debate over the best course of action for Charly. His response is to harness his remarkable cognitive abilities, utilizing cutting-edge computer technology and scientific theory to propose innovative solutions. However, as he delves deeper into his research, Charly begins to experience an inexplicable phenomenon - mental blocks that hint at a possible regression.

Despite his best efforts, Charly’s investigations yield little progress, and Alice finds herself torn between her deep affection for him and the daunting reality of his potential decline. It is then that Charly makes a heart-wrenching decision: he asks Alice to leave, fearing that she will be forced to witness the tragic erosion of his intellectual powers.

Days later, a somber Alice observes Charly as he reverts to his former state on the playground, playing with an innocence and naivety that seems almost surreal. It’s a poignant reminder that, for Charly, there is no middle ground - only the stark contrast between genius and infancy, with no apparent memory of the life he once knew.

As the curtain closes on this poignant tale, we are left to ponder the cruel fate that has befallen Charly, a man whose extraordinary gifts have been matched only by his tragic circumstances.