Everett Collection

24. CHARLY (1968)

Based on Daniel Keyes' novel Flowers for Algernon, Charly tells the simple story of Charlie Gordon (Cliff Robertson), a retarded man who can't even spell his own name. A radical new surgery turns him into a genius and enables him to win the heart of his lovely teacher, Alice (Claire Bloom). But their idyll is cut short when they discover the effects of the operation are only temporary — and that Charlie will return to his former state. Academy members couldn't keep dry eyes either: Robertson won the Best Actor Oscar.

KLEENEX MOMENT Alice begs Charlie to marry her, or to let her stay as long as he can bear it. Turns out, he can't bear it for one minute and, truthfully, neither can we.