Love Story

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Love Story LoveStory.jpg
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Writer:	Erich Segal
Starring:	Ali MacGraw Ryan O'Neal
Director:	Arthur Hiller
Music by:	Francis Lai
Distributor:	Paramount Pictures
Release Date:	December 16, 1970 (USA)
Runtime:	99 min.
Language:	[[English language\|English]]
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Love Story is a 1970 romance motion picture drama directed by Arthur Hiller that tells the story of two college students: Oliver, the emotionally vacant son of rich parents; and the girl he falls in love with, Jenny. Oliver's relationship with Jenny awakens new emotions of love and tenderness in him, and they marry against the wishes of Oliver's father, who cuts Oliver off financially, causing the newlyweds to descend into poverty.

The screenplay was written by Erich Segal; he adapted the screenplay into a novel which was published and became a best-seller prior to the release of the movie.

Love Story was followed by a 1978 sequel, Oliver's Story.

It was rumored that Erich Segal based the character of Oliver on Vice President Al Gore and Gore's Harvard roommate Tommy Lee Jones, although he says that the rumor "befuddles" him, and did not base the character on Al Gore or Gore's life.

This film is the last movie to be filmed on location at Harvard University.

1 Primary cast
2 Criticism
3 Famous quotes
4 References
5 External links

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Primary cast

Ali MacGraw: Jennifer Cavalleri
Ryan O'Neal: Oliver Barrett IV
John Marley: Phil Cavalleri
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

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The novel tells the first person 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 jock meets and falls in love with Jennifer Cavilleri, a poor, quick-witted Radcliffe College student. Upon graduation from college, the two decide to marry against the wishes of Oliver's father, who thereafter severs ties with his son.

Lacking 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 well-paying position at a respectable New York law firm, while Jennifer 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 several failed attempts at conception, they seek consultation from a medical specialist, who, after repeated tests, informs Oliver that Jennifer has leukemia and will soon die.

As instructed by his doctor, Oliver attempts to live a "normal life" without telling Jennifer of her condition. Jennifer nevertheless discovers her ailment after confronting her doctor about her recent illness. With their days together numbered, Jennifer begins costly cancer therapy, and Oliver soon becomes unable to afford the piling hospital expenses. Desperate, he seeks financial relief from his father, who obliges amicably.

From her hospital bed, Jennifer speaks with her father about funeral arrangements, and then asks for Oliver. She tells him to avoid blaming himself, and asks that he embrace her tightly before she dies.

Award wins:

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

Award 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

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Criticism

Although the film was a critical and commercial success, "Love Story" has been the subject of a rather large scale backlash by many critics and casual movie fans over the years. The most obvious complaint has to do with the film's script, which has been condemned as a hodgepodge of romance cliches tossed together with sappy ending designed to exploit the emotion of the audience.

Furthermore, the film's trademark quote "Love means never having to say you're sorry" has been the subject of much scorn and mockery. Many consider the line to be a nonsensical piece of fluff that has no meaning or depth while others have condemned the quote as advocating the notion that "love" means one can commit abuse, violence, adultery against a loved one and never have to apologise for one's actions no matter how vile they are.

In the 1972 film "What's Up, Doc?", actor Ryan O'Neal mocks his trademark line from "Love Story". In the film, Barbara Streisand tells O'Neal's character "love means never having to say you're sorry". O'Neal's character responds by saying "That's the dumbest thing I ever heard".

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Famous quotes

"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.
"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."

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