Love Story (1970)

**Love Story** is a 1970 romance-drama film written by Eric Segal, which was later adapted into a novel to serve as a preview for the film. *Love Story* starred Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw as titular characters Oliver Barrnett and Jenny Caviller.

## Synopsis

Love means never having to say you're sorry... Love Story. Everyone loves Love Story! One of the most romantic movies ever made also remains one of the most enduringly popular. This heartfelt 1970 tale of the love of a lifetime-the most successful Paramount movie up to that time-received seven Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture) and won one for Francis Lai's magnificent score. As filming was underway on Love Story, the filmmakers knew they had something special-so special that Erich Segal was simultaneously shaping his best-selling novel from his own screenplay. Stars Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw each received Academy Award nominations and became overnight movie sensations for their poignant portrayals of a young couple who cross social barriers, marry and ultimately face the greatest crisis of all.

## Plot

Oliver Barrett IV, heir of an American upper-class East Coast family, attends Harvard College where he plays ice hockey. He meets Jennifer "Jenny" Cavilleri, a quick-witted, working-class Radcliffe College student of classical music; they fall in love despite their differences. Oliver’s father drives a long distance to Ithaca NY to see his son’s hockey game vs. Cornell for the Ivy League championship. Harvard loses to Cornell, 4–3. Oliver turns down his father's offer of a ride back to Boston and help getting into Harvard Law School.

Oliver is upset that he does not figure in Jenny's plans to study in Paris. She accepts his marriage proposal and he takes her to the Barrett mansion to meet his parents, who are judgmental and unimpressed. Oliver's father says he will cut him off financially if he marries Jenny, but after graduation they marry, nonetheless.

Jenny works as a teacher but without his father's financial support the couple struggles to pay Oliver's way through Harvard Law School. Oliver graduates third in his class and takes a position at a respectable New York City law firm. They are ready to start a family but fail to conceive. After Jenny undergoes three blood tests, Oliver is told that she is terminally ill.

Oliver attempts to continue as normal without telling Jenny of her condition, but she confronts her doctor and finds out the truth. Oliver buys tickets to Paris, but she declines to go, wanting only to spend time with him. Oliver seeks money from his estranged father to pay for Jenny's cancer therapy. His father asks if he has "gotten a girl in trouble". Oliver says yes, and his father writes a check.

Jenny makes funeral arrangements with her father from her hospital bed. She tells Oliver to not blame himself, insisting that he never held her back from music and it was worth it for the love they shared. Jenny's last wish is for Oliver to embrace her tightly as she dies.

A grief-stricken Oliver leaves the hospital and he sees his father outside, who has rushed to New York City from Massachusetts to offer his help after learning about Jenny's condition. Oliver tells him, "Jenny's dead," and his father says "I'm sorry," to which Oliver responds, "Love – Love means never having to say you're sorry", something that Jenny had said to him earlier. Oliver walks alone to the open air ice rink, where Jenny had watched him skate the day she was hospitalized.

## Cast

* Ryan O'Neal as Oliver Barrett
* Ali MacGraw as Jenny Caviller
* John Marley as Phil Cavilleri
* Ray Milland as Oliver Barrett III
* Russell Nype as Dean Thompson
* Katharine Balfour as Mrs. Barrett
* Sydney Walker as Dr. Shapeley
* Robert Modica as Dr. Addison
* Walker Daniels as Ray Stratton
* Tommy Lee Jones as Hank Simpson
* John Merensky as Steve
* Andrew Duncan as Reverend Blaufelt