Until it degenerates somewhat into drippy man-woman chit-chat, "One Is a Lonely Number" has some wry comments to make on the life of a 27-year-old woman on the verge of being divorced. Trish Van Devere has a soft, fuzzy quality about her which is quiet and likable; when her husband of four years walks out on her without an explanation, she's forced to get a job and face the realization of being alone or dating again (neither of which seems to please her). Rather predictable narrative is spiked by a solid visual sense and good location shooting in and around San Francisco. The film comes from an unusual pedigree (executive producer David Wolper and director Mel Stuart worked together the previous year on "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" and screenwriter David Seltzer later wrote "The Omen"), and some of the sequences (such as the hurt spouse packing up her husband's leftover things) were expanded upon in later films such as "An Unmarried Woman" and "Kramer vs. Kramer". Alas, Seltzer's script, adapted from Rebecca Morris' short story "The Good Humor Man", falls too easily into convention, and when a ready-made prince (Monte Markham??) confesses to Van Devere he's married, one is inclined to groan. The material was probably much fresher in 1972, however this scenario has since become well-mined territory for a torrent of "women's pictures". What makes this one interesting are the performances (especially Janet Leigh's as a brassy man-hater) and the stinging sense of helplessness. We follow the work-a-day trials of this single woman as she is forced into a rather crummy job as a swimming pool lifeguard--secretly afraid of the high dive--and has to do things she doesn't want to do. It certainly has impact, but the movie's bracing quality is diluted by the soap opera. A near-miss. ** from ****
11 Reviews
Reminiscent of "An Unmarried Woman"...
MarieGabrielle27 August 2008
However, I preferred this film. While it is a bit disjointed, and certainly the subject matter these days in not novel, it addresses the individual issues of divorce and abandonment.
Some critics have dismissed this as a "woman's movie"...wow. Women today are a larger sector of the audience. Not sure what archaic demographic that critique is utilizing.
At any rate, Trish Van Devere gives an understated performance as a newly single San Francisco woman, attempting to restructure her life. Jane Leigh is amusing in a nice cameo as a vindictive divorcée, she looks amazing for age 45, and gives a fun performance.
Melvyn Douglas also has a cameo as resident grocer, Mr. Provo. He takes Van Devere to an outdoor play, and she breaks down as she finally realizes her four year marriage is over for good.
Never an easy issue, divorce is painful and personal, if you watch this, and then ten years later, watch it again, you may feel differently. Recommended. 7/10.
Some critics have dismissed this as a "woman's movie"...wow. Women today are a larger sector of the audience. Not sure what archaic demographic that critique is utilizing.
At any rate, Trish Van Devere gives an understated performance as a newly single San Francisco woman, attempting to restructure her life. Jane Leigh is amusing in a nice cameo as a vindictive divorcée, she looks amazing for age 45, and gives a fun performance.
Melvyn Douglas also has a cameo as resident grocer, Mr. Provo. He takes Van Devere to an outdoor play, and she breaks down as she finally realizes her four year marriage is over for good.
Never an easy issue, divorce is painful and personal, if you watch this, and then ten years later, watch it again, you may feel differently. Recommended. 7/10.
Van Devere alone...
planktonrules10 April 2017
"One is a Lonely Number" ("Two is a Happy Number") is a film about a woman's experience coming to terms with the end of her marriage. In many ways, it's like Dr. Kubler-Ross' Stages of Grief and you see the lady (Trish Van Devere) work through the stages until she finally arrives at accepting that it is, indeed, over. While this would NOT make for a fun or good date night film, it is mildly entertaining and a bit brave in addressing this sad topic. Sadly, up until the end it was a very good film (I might have scored it a 7 or 8) but the ending seemed a bit dumb and poorly handled. You could do better...you could do a lot worse. This sort of film has the term 'time-passer' written all over it and is a nice chance to see Van Devere acting without her husband and usual on-screen partner, George C. Scott.
"One" to keep an eye out for...
Poseidon-325 November 2002
This is a little-known, but rewarding seriocomic film about the tribulations of a young woman in the throes of a divorce. Van Devere plays a 27 year-old wife who watches (in a hilariously pretentious opening sequence) as her husband packs his things and walks out on her. Completely unprepared for this, she must jump the hurdles of a society who, at that time, didn't make things easy for a single woman. She "gets a job, gets a lawyer and gets laid" as the leader of a woman's league advises her. None of these things come easy or without pitfalls, however. She must tolerate a slimy employment recruiter and take on the unlikely task of being a lifeguard. She can't decide whether to have her lawyer castrate her husband or let him off easy. She finds the dating game to be more than a little daunting. She must get her feet wet and take the plunge in a new world (symbolized not too subtly by her occupation and an imposing diving board.) The film is a bit soapy, trite and pat at times, but thanks to the eventually endearing work of Van Devere (who's in virtually every scene), expert pacing and some excellent supporting players, it comes off as very enjoyable and pleasant. Douglas, who in this period was building an impressive resume of excellent supporting performances, shines as an elderly produce shop owner who is fond of the young lady. Leigh, in her last really glamorous big screen appearance before turning gaunt, gets off several snappy lines as the women's league leader. Elliot, legendary for her work on "General Hospital", is a very bright, attractive presence as Van Devere's best friend. Markham has one of his best big screen roles as a man trying to break through Van Devere's defenses. The film is a fascinating time capsule of early '70's fashions/hair and viewpoints on women and their roles at the time. As a lifeguard, the leading lady has to do a whole myriad of things that no one would do today (actually, no one her age could probably even BE a lifeguard today!) including rubbing lotion on a beached whale of a woman and putting a swimsuit on a naked child! The film raises questions as to how much women gained or lost in the sexual revolution, but also shows how much things have changed. To it's credit, the film avoids a lot of things (heart-tugging deaths, extraneous problems of the friends, loud confrontations, etc...) that would be inserted into a film today, giving it a much more realistic atmosphere. The musical score is effective, but the choice of song for the seduction scene is excruciatingly awful. Viewers will want to keep a mute button handy for that!
They don't have names in here only numbers.
sol121829 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Very much like the 1978 women's movie "An Unmarried Woman" released six years later even down to it's dramatic and unexpected freeze frame ending "One is a Lonely Number" has to do with a young womens abandonment by her husband and being forced to go out in a world and face situations that she's lest prepared for.
Right out of the blue English collage professor James Brower, Paul Jenkins, tells his startled young wife Aimee, Trish Van Devere, that he's divorcing her. The reason for James leaving Aimee is mental cruelty which was in her, thinking it's a piece of junk, throwing out a his rare 1st edition copy of "Paradise Lost" by John Milton! It later turns out that James left Aimee for totally different reasons; His affair with his cute and blond teenage secretary at the collage he teaches in.
Out in the cold with bills piling up to the ceiling Aimee gets a job as a lifeguard at a local community swimming pool in San Francisco. Not at first realizing what she got involved in with the sneering and hot in the pants employment agent Sherman Cooke, Jonathan Lippe, Aimee is later shocked to find Sherman in the ladies shower, fully clothes, demanding that she take a cold shower together with him! It's as if by just doing his job, finding a job for Aimee, Sherman want's to bed her down as a reward! Threatened by an outraged Aimee to have him reported to the police for attempted rape as well as being spotted in the ladies shower by two unexpected visitors, a woman and her young daughter, Sherman makes a hasty retreat never to be seen again in the film.
Aimee eventually gets her head together with the help of fellow divorcées Gert Meredith, Janet Leigh, and Madge Frazier, Jane Elliot, who've had experience in failed marriages with Madge going through her first and Gert her fifth divorce. Aimee also gets the very needed advice and attention that she so desperately seeking from a very unexpected source; The kind and friendly fruit & vegetable man Joseph Provo, Melvyn Douglas. It was Mr Provo, a widower after 39 years of being happily married, who set Aimee straight to what life, as well as good and cheap grade "A" #1 produce, is all about.
Aimee does find out that not every man who's interested in her sexually and romantically is also interested in marrying her. This comes as a big surprise to Aimee when her new boyfriend Howard "The Duck" Carpenter, Monte Markham, reveals to her after a roll in the hay, or the sack, that he's actually married and happily at that! Becoming more and more independent and confident in herself Aimee eventually loses interest in her ex-husband James who's affair with his 19 year old secretary had already gone bust.
This leads James, now feeling like a first class jerk, to drop his filing for divorce against Aimee wanting her back despite all the damage he caused her! But by then Aimee being a free soul with all the eligible and married men in town wanting to date and go out with her she tells James to go take a hike and get himself lost in the woods!
Now free and full of confidence in both herself and her ability to overcome any obstacle put in her path Aimee now confronts the challenge that's been haunting her all throughout the movie! And Aimee, true to form, passes it with flying colors!
Right out of the blue English collage professor James Brower, Paul Jenkins, tells his startled young wife Aimee, Trish Van Devere, that he's divorcing her. The reason for James leaving Aimee is mental cruelty which was in her, thinking it's a piece of junk, throwing out a his rare 1st edition copy of "Paradise Lost" by John Milton! It later turns out that James left Aimee for totally different reasons; His affair with his cute and blond teenage secretary at the collage he teaches in.
Out in the cold with bills piling up to the ceiling Aimee gets a job as a lifeguard at a local community swimming pool in San Francisco. Not at first realizing what she got involved in with the sneering and hot in the pants employment agent Sherman Cooke, Jonathan Lippe, Aimee is later shocked to find Sherman in the ladies shower, fully clothes, demanding that she take a cold shower together with him! It's as if by just doing his job, finding a job for Aimee, Sherman want's to bed her down as a reward! Threatened by an outraged Aimee to have him reported to the police for attempted rape as well as being spotted in the ladies shower by two unexpected visitors, a woman and her young daughter, Sherman makes a hasty retreat never to be seen again in the film.
Aimee eventually gets her head together with the help of fellow divorcées Gert Meredith, Janet Leigh, and Madge Frazier, Jane Elliot, who've had experience in failed marriages with Madge going through her first and Gert her fifth divorce. Aimee also gets the very needed advice and attention that she so desperately seeking from a very unexpected source; The kind and friendly fruit & vegetable man Joseph Provo, Melvyn Douglas. It was Mr Provo, a widower after 39 years of being happily married, who set Aimee straight to what life, as well as good and cheap grade "A" #1 produce, is all about.
Aimee does find out that not every man who's interested in her sexually and romantically is also interested in marrying her. This comes as a big surprise to Aimee when her new boyfriend Howard "The Duck" Carpenter, Monte Markham, reveals to her after a roll in the hay, or the sack, that he's actually married and happily at that! Becoming more and more independent and confident in herself Aimee eventually loses interest in her ex-husband James who's affair with his 19 year old secretary had already gone bust.
This leads James, now feeling like a first class jerk, to drop his filing for divorce against Aimee wanting her back despite all the damage he caused her! But by then Aimee being a free soul with all the eligible and married men in town wanting to date and go out with her she tells James to go take a hike and get himself lost in the woods!
Now free and full of confidence in both herself and her ability to overcome any obstacle put in her path Aimee now confronts the challenge that's been haunting her all throughout the movie! And Aimee, true to form, passes it with flying colors!
another time
SnoopyStyle17 September 2023
In San Francisco, 27 year old Amy Brower (Trish Van Devere) is puzzled when her husband walks out on her. He wants a divorce after four years of marriage. Apparently, he went to Mexico with a 19 year old girl and he's cutting her off financially. She's still trying to save her marriage while adjusting to her new life.
It's definitely another time. It may be a different time but there are echoes to today. It's post 60's. It's women's lib. It's single gal adventures and tribulations. It's divorce American style. This reminds me of a couple of famous divorce/single woman/feminist movies later in the decade. This story meanders around and threatens to derail a couple of times. Amy frustrates me a little by trying to keep her marriage for too long. At a certain point, she needs to face reality. She should change her outlook after the big cry and Howard. By the time of the climatic meeting, it's a little anti-climatic. The final ending leaves me with mixed feelings.
It's definitely another time. It may be a different time but there are echoes to today. It's post 60's. It's women's lib. It's single gal adventures and tribulations. It's divorce American style. This reminds me of a couple of famous divorce/single woman/feminist movies later in the decade. This story meanders around and threatens to derail a couple of times. Amy frustrates me a little by trying to keep her marriage for too long. At a certain point, she needs to face reality. She should change her outlook after the big cry and Howard. By the time of the climatic meeting, it's a little anti-climatic. The final ending leaves me with mixed feelings.
***
edwagreen23 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
While very much clichéd, I thought I was going to see at first a prelude to 1979's "An Unmarried Woman" with Jill Clayburgh. The film begins with a professor of English leaving his wife and she struggles to understand the breakup.
Men are not portrayed well here. There is the professor who has a 19 year old on the side, the suave employment agency guy who has more than hiring on his mind and the Monte Markham character, the guy who falls for our heroine only for us to discover that he is married. The only redeeming man of quality is veteran Melvyn Douglas, as an aged grocery store owner who knows the score having experienced life to it fullest with his now deceased wife. When Trish Van Devere thinks he has died, her visit to the morgue is memorable as we see the cold side of the attendant. To him, a dead person is rather a stiff.
As the brassy blond experienced with divorce with her divorce league, Janet Leigh steals every scene she is in.
The modern day ending of achieving freedom is overstated here.
Men are not portrayed well here. There is the professor who has a 19 year old on the side, the suave employment agency guy who has more than hiring on his mind and the Monte Markham character, the guy who falls for our heroine only for us to discover that he is married. The only redeeming man of quality is veteran Melvyn Douglas, as an aged grocery store owner who knows the score having experienced life to it fullest with his now deceased wife. When Trish Van Devere thinks he has died, her visit to the morgue is memorable as we see the cold side of the attendant. To him, a dead person is rather a stiff.
As the brassy blond experienced with divorce with her divorce league, Janet Leigh steals every scene she is in.
The modern day ending of achieving freedom is overstated here.
Intelligent Study of Life Alone
JLRMovieReviews17 February 2015
Somebody's always saying goodbye, as an Anne Murray song goes. Here, Trish van Devere's husband has left her. After arguments and differences, the last straw was when she threw his copy of Milton out the window of their New York apartment. Being alone was the last thing she expected to be after her four years with James, but now she's alone. Of course, she's got girlfriends (like Jane Elliott) who want to hook her up, but she's so depressed and in shock. Oh, and yeah, she needs a job now. The employment place maybe has something, if she's nice to him. But he's a creep. There's the old man who runs the grocery store, whose wife died a few years ago. He's nice to talk to, played by Melvyn Douglas. She takes a job as a lifeguard, of all things! Between all her highs and lows and meeting a possible suitor in Monte Markham, she tries to find her independent soul. While the film does reflect the loneliness and despondency of her situation, it does not wallow in it and therefore manages to entertain the viewer while relating to her pain. The supporting cast is very good, but the film belong to Ms. Van Devere. Watch "One is a Lonely Number" and learn that you need not feel weak and dependent on another, and that as one you can be strong.
A Parade Of Wonderful Actors Delivering A Heartwarming Story
Tirelli18 February 2000
Some movies present such basic, utterly simple storylines, that the only thing that can actually save them from turning into mediocre flicks is how they are executed. And that's the case of Rebecca Morris' 'One Is A Lonely Number'. It's the simple tale of a recently divorced woman, Aimee, who slowly discovers how to get along with her life, growing through pain, loss, heartache and the dealing of loneliness. If you think it's familiar, you're right. The same subject has been brought up oh so many times throughout the last three decades - mostly on campy tearjerkers - but they can't be compared with this one.
Trish Van Devere ~ Day Of The Dolphin, etc... ~ surrenders completely to her role, and gives the performance of a life time. Melvyn Douglas... well, what can I say about him?
Plus, bits from a very sarcastic, cynical Janet Leigh, fresh from such flops as 'Hello Down There'.
It's all delivered to you from a gentle, bittersweet point of view. The pacing is perfect, for it gives the film a reality touch. The music... well, four words for you... Michel Legrand... Bossa Nova.
And some scenes deserve special attention... Trish's reaction to King Lear, and sobbing on Douglas' shoulders. Trish's seduction of Monte Markham and finally... the last scene...
Have a box of Kleenex handy. Do yourself that favor... :)
Trish Van Devere ~ Day Of The Dolphin, etc... ~ surrenders completely to her role, and gives the performance of a life time. Melvyn Douglas... well, what can I say about him?
Plus, bits from a very sarcastic, cynical Janet Leigh, fresh from such flops as 'Hello Down There'.
It's all delivered to you from a gentle, bittersweet point of view. The pacing is perfect, for it gives the film a reality touch. The music... well, four words for you... Michel Legrand... Bossa Nova.
And some scenes deserve special attention... Trish's reaction to King Lear, and sobbing on Douglas' shoulders. Trish's seduction of Monte Markham and finally... the last scene...
Have a box of Kleenex handy. Do yourself that favor... :)
The story of a young woman, recently divorced, trying to find a meaning for her new life.
Elwen13 September 1998
This is the story of Aimee Brower, a 28 year old woman who just recently divorced her husband. The movie takes us on what Aimee goes through trying to make some sense out of her newly found life, realizing that after all you can live by yourself.
What I find interesting about the movie is that we get to see the female point-of-view of divorce on the early 70s, when women weren't expected to have a career of their own or something else besides being married.
What I find interesting about the movie is that we get to see the female point-of-view of divorce on the early 70s, when women weren't expected to have a career of their own or something else besides being married.
A surprisingly enjoyable, obscure film
Ripshin6 September 2004
This movie came under the radar for me - I had never heard of it. Turner Classic Movies gave me the chance, as usual, to experience a film I would probably have never watched, otherwise.
"One" is a wonderful period piece, with great acting, and a simple but engaging plot.
Granted, Janet Leigh's crude supporting character is a bit grating - the humor is jarring - but everyone else is cast perfectly.
The San Francisco locale is used effectively, but sparingly.
Interestingly, director Stuart also directed "Willy Wonka" the year before; he certainly knew how to work with actors.
"One" is a wonderful period piece, with great acting, and a simple but engaging plot.
Granted, Janet Leigh's crude supporting character is a bit grating - the humor is jarring - but everyone else is cast perfectly.
The San Francisco locale is used effectively, but sparingly.
Interestingly, director Stuart also directed "Willy Wonka" the year before; he certainly knew how to work with actors.
See also
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