Love Story
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| Love Story | |
|---|---|
 original movie poster |
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| Directed by | Arthur Hiller |
| Produced by | Howard G. Minsky |
| Written by | Erich Segal |
| Starring | Ali MacGraw Ryan O'Neal |
| Music by | Francis Lai |
| Cinematography | Richard C. Kratina |
| Editing by | Robert C. Jones |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | December 16, 1970 |
| Running time | 99 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Love Story is a 1970 romantic drama film written by Erich Segal based on his 1970 best-selling novel, and directed by Arthur Hiller. The film, well-known as a tear-jerking tragedy, is considered one of the most romantic of all time by the American Film Institute (#9 on the list).
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[edit] Plot (of the novel)
The novel tells the story of Oliver Barrett, IV, who comes from a long line of wealthy and well-respected Harvard University graduates. Partly to break the traditional Ivy League mold, the Harvard student meets and falls in love with Jennifer Cavilleri, a working-class, quick-witted Radcliffe College student. Upon graduation from college, the two decide to marry against the wishes of Oliver's father, who thereupon severs ties with his son.
Without his father's financial support, the couple struggles to pay Oliver's way through Harvard Law School. Graduating third in his class, Oliver takes a position at a respectable New York law firm, while Jenny teaches at a private school.
With Oliver's income and Jennifer's salary as a teacher, the pair of 24-year-olds decide to have a child. After failing to conceive, they consult a medical specialist, who, after repeated tests, informs Oliver that Jenny is ill and will soon die.
As instructed by his doctor, Oliver attempts to live a "normal life" without telling Jenny of her condition. Jenny nevertheless discovers her ailment after confronting her doctor about her recent illness. With their days together numbered, Jenny begins costly cancer therapy, and Oliver soon becomes unable to afford the multiplying hospital expenses. Desperate, he seeks financial relief from his father. Instead of telling his father what the money is truly for, Oliver leads him believe that he needs it because he has had an affair which led to a pregnancy.
From her hospital bed, Jenny speaks with her father about funeral arrangements, and then asks for Oliver. She tells him to avoid blaming himself, and asks him to embrace her tightly before she dies.
The novel also includes the double meaning of a love story between Oliver and his father, highlighted by the scene between Oliver and his father at the end of the book. When Mr. Barrett realizes that Jenny is ill and that his son borrowed the money for her, he immediately sets out for New York. By the time he reaches the hospital, Jenny is dead. Mr. Barrett apologizes to his son, who replies with something Jenny once told him: "Love means not ever having to say you're sorry."
[edit] Production
[edit] Writing
While the movie has antagonists like every other story, it features no villains. From Harvard's nemesis on the ice - Cornell - to the aristocratic elder Barretts, every character is good at heart.
The film also reflected the times: Jennifer most likely has leukemia, but the characters never utter the word due to silence over the "Big C" at the time.
[edit] Quotations
- "Love means never having to say you're sorry." The quote made it to #13 onto the American Film Institute's AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes, a list of top movie quotes.
- The 1972 screwball comedy What's Up, Doc?, which stars O'Neal, mocks this trademark line. At the end of that film, when Barbra Streisand's character coos "Love means never having to say you're sorry" while batting her eyelashes, O'Neal's character responds with the line: "That's the dumbest thing I ever heard."
- "What can you say about a twenty-five year old girl who died? That she was beautiful and brilliant. That she loved Mozart and Bach. The Beatles. And me."
[edit] Main cast
- Ali MacGraw: Jennifer Cavilleri-Barrett
- Ryan O'Neal: Oliver Barrett IV
- John Marley: Phil Cavilleri
- Ray Milland: Oliver Barrett III
- Russell Nype: Dean Thompson
- Katharine Balfour: Mrs. Barrett
- Sydney Walker: Dr. Shapely
- Robert Modica: Dr. Addison
- Walker Daniels: Ray Stratton
- Tommy Lee Jones: Hank Simpson
[edit] Awards and nominations
Awards:
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture - Drama
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama - Ali MacGraw
- Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture - Arthur Hiller
- Academy Award for Original Music Score - Francis Lai
- Golden Globe Award for Original Music Score - Francis Lai
- Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Erich Segal
Nominations:
- Academy Award for Best Picture
- Academy Award for Best Actress - Ali MacGraw
- Academy Award for Best Actor - Ryan O'Neal
- Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama - Ryan O'Neal
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor - John Marley
- Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - John Marley
- Academy Award for Directing - Arthur Hiller
- Directors Guild of America for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures - Arthur Hiller
- Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay - Erich Segal
- Writers Guild of America Award for Best Drama Written Directly for the Screen - Erich Segal
- Grammy Award for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture - Francis Lai
[edit] Critical reaction
Although popular with audiences and some reviewers, the film failed to resonate with many others. Film critic Judith Crist called Love Story "Camille with bullshit."
[edit] Musical selections from the soundtrack
- Concerto No. 3 in D Major for harpsichord, third movement - by Johann Sebastian Bach
- Sonata In F Major for flute and harpsichord, first movement - by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- Joy To The World - by Georg Friedrich Händel and Isaac Watts
- A Fair Rose Is Blooming (Es ist ein Ros' entsprungen) - by Michael Praetorius
- Love Story - by Francis Lai, performed by Francis Lai & His Orchestra
- Snow Frolic - by Francis Lai, performed by Francis Lai & His Orchestra
- I Love You, Phil - by Francis Lai
- The Christmas Tree - (traditional)
- Search for Jenny - by Francis Lai
- Bozo Barrett - by Francis Lai
- Long Walk Home - by Francis Lai
- Skating in Central Park - by John Lewis
[edit] Trivia
The name Jennifer was the most popular name for baby girls in the United States from 1970 to 1984.[1] Though the name was already rising in popularity through the 1960s, the popularity of the book and movie is often cited as the reason Jennifer reached number one and stayed there 15 years.
[edit] References
- Vincent Canby. "Perfection and a 'Love Story.'" The New York Times. December 18, 1970. 44.
[edit] External links
- Love Story at the Internet Movie Database
- Film Rewind: Revisiting Love Story (fan summary)
