Actors - Love Story

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	Actors - Love Story

Love Story is a 1970 romance motion picture drama 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. The screenplay was written by Erich Segal from his best-selling novel.

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

Plot

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 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 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 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.

Awards and nominations

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

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.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Love Story ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Love Story; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

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