Released
1968
Inspired by his own portrayal of Charly in a TV adaptation of Daniel Keyes's story "Flowers for Algernon," Robertson helped mount this big-screen production with himself again in the title role, and earned a Best Actor Oscar nod for his efforts in 1968. Charly clearly symbolizes the ideals of late '60s flower power, a point continuously reinforced by Ravi Shankar's musical arabesques, but Robertson brings a heart-wrenching gravity to his performance that elevates and enriches Charly as a romantic drama, making it more than a sentimental curio of the hippie era.