The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) Somebody's Waiting (1961) User Reviews

Somebody's Waiting

[Prismark10 · 7/10 · 11 August 2022]

This tale reminded me somewhat of the the John Candy character in Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

It also has a passing resemblance to the movie Marty, a story about loneliness.

Mickey Rooney plays sailor Augie on shore leave with his sailor pals. Only problem is that Augie is so overbearing a few of them want nothing to do with him.

Augie goes to visit his cousin, but he wants to scram as soon as Augie arrives.

Carla (Susan Oliver) the new next door neighbour takes pity on him and both begin to talk and hit it off.

Only danger is lurking as two punks who Augie insulted come round looking for him.

It is a story about loneliness and belonging. By the end Augie values friendship more than revenge. Also that someone was waiting for him to return.

Good performances from Rooney and Oliver. Look out for Warren Oates and Paul Mazursky.

Solitude among friends

[searchanddestroy-1 · 25 January 2016]

A bunch of sailors are back from their task and feel suddenly lonely when they arrive in town. You have here wonderful performances, lead by a tremendous Mickey Rooney. The poor guys seemingly have no one to wait for them and stay together, in bars, drinking, playing cards and thinking about the meaning of life. For instance Mickey Rooney's character who calls his cousin who is in family and who gets a pretext not to see his sailor relative... Yes, this episode is a very interesting character study, a little depressing for people among audiences who could recognize themselves in these portraits. Mickey Rooney was really a great actor, despite his short frame and baby face. Some moving and somewhat disturbing sequences when Rooney visits some folks who feel so bored in front of him. Look out for the talk of the young woman whom Rooney visits and who speaks of her lady friend, a friend who doesn't exist, because she speaks of herself, to explain the unexplainable. You have understood that this is definitely not a comedy but a drama, a damn good drama. Arthur Hiller made it, an excellent piece of work. But strangely this ends like a pure suspense tale.