Oliver's Story (1978) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error | Drama , Romance | 27 April 1979 (Finland) In this sequel to Love Story (1970), grieving Oliver is being pressured by his in-laws to move on and take part in the family business. He meets a pretty heiress and they start dating, but memories of Jennie come rushing back.

Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 101 titles created 05 Dec 2010 a list of 39 titles created 11 Jun 2012 a list of 54 titles created 13 Jul 2013 a list of 2455 titles created 04 Jan 2014 a list of 73 titles created 05 Jul 2015 Search for " Oliver's Story " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Edit Storyline In this sequel to Love Story (1970), grieving Oliver is being pressured by his in-laws to move on and take part in the family business. He meets a pretty heiress and they start dating, but memories of Jennie come rushing back. It takes someone very special to help you forget someone very special. Genres: 27 April 1979 (Finland) See more » Also Known As: A História de Oliver See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know?

Trivia The hotel in Hong Kong is the same exterior used in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974). See more » Goofs Oliver drives to his father's retirement party. It is clearly winter since there are no leaves on the trees. He stays overnight at his father's house. The next morning the scene in the kitchen shows that it is now spring or summer, since there are now leaves on the trees (not evergreens) outside the windows. See more » Connections (Victoria, BC) – See all my reviews The (belated) sequel to "Love Story", "Oliver's Story" was rejected by audiences at the box office, and it's all but forgotten today, even with it being released on both VHS and DVD. Watching it, it's pretty easy to figure out why. For one thing, it's hard to sympathize with Oliver; while he has lost his wife, he is rich and with a good job, and he just silently mopes around instead of expressing anguish or sadness. Not surprisingly, O'Neal performance is lacklustre. While Candace Bergman actually give a better performance than most of the other movies she made in the '70s, she lacks spark and spirit.

What on earth do these two people see in each other? And the end of the movie is very unsatisfying, leaving the characters' plot threads in the air. The only real good thing about the movie is Ray Milland, though he only makes a few brief appearances. 11 of 13 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Ryan O'Neal - Film Actor, Television Actor - Biography.com Famous People Named Ryan Synopsis Born on April 20, 1941, Ryan O’Neal worked as a boxer before getting into acting, starring in the ‘60s soap Peyton Place. His role in Love Story earned him an Oscar nod and he’s starred in a host of other films, including Barry Lyndon, Paper Moon, What’s Up, Doc? and The Main Event, the latter two co-starring Barbra Streisand. O’Neal had a long-term relationship with actress Farrah Fawcett. Early Life Actor Patrick Ryan O'Neal was born on April 20, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. He was born into show business as the son of writer, Charles "Blackie" O'Neal, and actress Patricia Callaghan.

Determined to follow his own path, O'Neal trained to become a professional boxer, competing in two Golden Gloves championships in Los Angeles in 1956 and 1957. He had an impressive amateur fighting record—18 wins to 4 losses, with 13 knockouts. In the late 1950s, O'Neal and his family moved to Germany for his father's job writing broadcasts for Radio Free Europe. O'Neal finished up his schooling at the Munich American High School, graduating in 1959. His parents helped him land his first job in the entertainment industry as a stuntman on the German television series Tales of the Vikings, which his parents were working on. Big Break O'Neal returned to the United States to try his luck in Hollywood. In 1962, he landed a supporting role in the television western Empire. The show only lasted a season, but more parts soon followed. O'Neal made guest appearances on such shows as The Virginian, Perry Mason, and Wagon Train before getting a role on the groundbreaking prime-time soap opera Peyton Place in 1964.

Peyton Place, based on the best-selling novel by Grace Metalious, explored the darker side of several families living in a suburban New England town. It was a huge hit with television audiences, and its popularity helped launch O'Neal's career and the career of cast member Mia Farrow. O'Neal's personal life seemed much like the soap opera he starred in. In the early 1960s, O'Neal married actress Joanna Moore. The couple had two children together: a daughter named Tatum in 1963 and son Griffin in 1964. They split up a few years later, divorcing in 1967. That same year, O'Neal married for the second time. He wed actress Lee Taylor-Young with whom he had a son Patrick. O'Neal and Taylor-Young also divorced soon after. After Peyton Place ended in 1969, O'Neal moved on to feature films. He landed the lead in 1969's The Big Bounce, starring opposite his wife Lee in a film adaptation of the novel by Elmore Leonard.

It proved to be a box-office disappointment, but his next effort, 1970's Love Story, turned out to be a great success. He played Oliver Barrett IV, beating out 300 other performers for the role. O'Neal starred opposite Ali McGraw in this romantic tearjerker about a young man who turns his back on his wealth to marry the woman he loves, only to lose her to a terminal illness. For his work on the film, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Turning to comedy, O'Neal starred opposite Barbra Streisand in What's Up Doc? (1971). He then played a grifter working con games with his daughter (played by his real-life daughter Tatum) in the critically acclaimed hit Paper Moon (1973). Tatum won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role. While his daughter's career appeared to be heating up, O'Neal experienced several flops, including Stanley Kubrick's 1975 historical drama Barry Lyndon and 1978's Oliver's Story, a sequel to Love Story.

He also had a series of missed opportunities, having been considered and rejected for lead roles in The Godfather and Rocky. In 1979, O'Neal scored a box office win with The Main Event, starring again with Barbra Streisand in this popular boxing comedy. Personal Life His next few films failed to make much of an impression on critics or movie-goers, but he did receive some attention for his personal life. In 1983, O'Neal made headlines for a fight he had with his oldest son Griffin, in which he knocked out two of Griffin's teeth. Gossip columns also buzzed with rumors that O'Neal was dating actress Farrah Fawcett. Fawcett was still married to actor Lee Majors at the time, who was also one of O'Neal friends. While O'Neal and Fawcett never married, they welcomed a son, Redmond, in 1985. Around this time, O'Neal scored a modest hit with 1984's Irreconcilable Differences. He co-starred with Shelley Long as parents who are sued for divorce by their daughter (played by Drew Barrymore).

O'Neal returned to his television roots in 1991 with the sitcom Good Sports. He played a former football star who lands a sportscaster job at a sports cable network and ends up working with a former fling (played by Farrah Fawcett). The show lasted for only seven months. In coming years, O'Neal became more famous for his off-screen life than his acting work. His relationship with Fawcett was an endless source of interest for the tabloid press. The couple broke up in the late 1990s, but they remained friendly after the split. They reunited in 2001, as O'Neal faced another challenge: cancer. He was able to successfully treat the disease with medication, and entered into remission. Around that same time, O'Neal appeared on the short-lived television drama Bull. He tried again in 2003 with the romantic comedy Miss Match, playing the father of a matchmaker across from Alicia Silverstone. The show was a ratings disaster, and didn't last a full season. In 2005, O'Neal found himself under media scrutiny after his daughter Tatum published her autobiography A Paper Life.

She wrote that he was an abusive father, and was responsible for introducing her and her brother Griffin to drugs at an early age. Despite this latest controversy, O'Neal scored a recurring role on the hit crime drama Bones. More family drama occurred in 2007, when O'Neal was arrested on assault charges after another run-in with son Griffin. During the altercation, Griffin's pregnant girlfriend was struck in the head with a fireplace poker, and O'Neal shot a gun into the air. The charges were later dropped. The O'Neal family continued to make headlines, however, with the drug arrests of Redmond and Tatum in 2008. Recent Years Facing another personal crisis, O'Neal supported Fawcett as she battled her own cancer. Fawcett, with the help of friend Alana Stewart, documented her struggle with the disease. The footage later became the two-hour television special Farrah's Story, which aired in May 2009. O'Neal appeared on the television news show 20/20 to talk about Fawcett's struggle and how her illness had brought them closer together.

He even said that he was going to marry Fawcett, but her condition deteriorated before that could happen. On June 25, 2009, Fawcett succumbed to her illness. Even her funeral became a part of the O'Neal family drama. Ryan refused to allow son Griffin to attend the service because he had disparaged his father in the press. Griffin told the media that Ryan only wanted to marry Farrah for her money. Ryan also did not recognize his daughter Tatum when she came to pay her respects. Son Patrick was also in attendance. The future is now uncertain for this once-prominent Hollywood actor. "There's nothing out there for me. I don't want to be somebody's grandfather . . . so I wait around—and dream," O'Neal once told People magazine. Whether he is able to resurrect his career or not, O'Neal and his family will remain popular with the media and the public, who are fascinated by this dysfunctional Hollywood dynasty. Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us !

Citation Information Ryan O'Neal | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos | AllMovie twitter Biography by Sandra Brennan Though his early career seemed to hold the promise of major stardom for actor Ryan O'Neal , matters didn't pan out and he has become more famous for his long-term live-in relationship with 1970s poster girl-turned-movie star-of-the-week actress Farrah Fawcett than any of his '80s and '90s films. Still, O'Neal is an appealing actor and his clean-cut good looks and reddish- blond hair give him an exuberant boyishness that belies his age. His first major role was that of Rodney Harrington on the television soap opera Peyton Place (1964-1969). O'Neal is the son of screenwriter Charles O'Neal and actress Patricia Callaghan O'Neal . A California native, he spent much of his childhood living abroad. As a young man, O'Neal sometimes got into trouble and at one point served a 51-day jail sentence for assault and battery after getting into a fight at a New Year's party.

Before becoming an actor, O'Neal was a lifeguard and an amateur boxer who was a one-time Golden Gloves contender. In film and television, O'Neal started out as a stunt man on Tales of the Vikings, a German television series. His parents were working on the same show. Upon his return to the States, O'Neal continued finding work in small parts on television shows, getting his first regular acting job on the Western Empire (1962). Following the demise of Peyton Place , O'Neal made his feature debut in The Big Bounce (1969), but did not get his big break until he was chosen from 300 auditioners to play Oliver Barrett opposite Ally McGraw in Arthur Hiller 's maudlin adaptation of Erich Seagal's best-seller Love Story- (1970). The film was a smash hit and landed O'Neal an Oscar nomination. Two more starring roles followed this success but it was not until he played an uptight professor who finds himself beleaguered by a free-spirited, love-struck Barbra Streisand in Peter Bogdanovich 's What's Up Doc?

(1972) that he rivaled the success of Love Story. It has been in light, romantic fare such as this that O'Neal has excelled. His next popular role was that of an exasperated con man in Paper Moon, the charming comedy that netted his co-star and real-life daughter, Tatum O'Neal , an Oscar. O'Neal then played the title role in Stanley Kubrick 's slow-paced epic Barry Lyndon (1975). By the late '70s, O'Neal's career had gone into decline and he had begun appearing in such dismal outings as Oliver's Story (the 1978 sequel to his first big hit) and The Main Event (1979) which reteamed him with Streisand. The '80s were even tougher for O'Neal, even though he appeared regularly onscreen. In 1989, O'Neal turned up in the wrenching made-for-TV-movie Small Sacrifices, which starred his lover Fawcett. Two years later, he and Fawcett starred in the short-lived television sitcom Good Sports.

He followed that up with a part in the body-switch comedy Chances Are. In the nineties he appeared in the showbiz satire Burn Hollywood Burn, and the quirky detective tale Zero Effect. As the 21st century began he could be seen opposite Al Pacino in People I Know, and in the 2003 comedy Malibu's Most Wanted. After seven years away from screen, he appeared in 2012's Slumber Party Slaughter. Before hooking up with Farrah in the early '80s, O'Neal was married to actresses to Joanna Moore and Leigh Taylor-Young . His children from those marriages, Tatum and Griffin O'Neal , are both actors as is his brother Kevin O'Neal . Movie Highlights Made his start in movies as a stunt man. His father, Charles, was a Hollywood screenwriter. Was a talented Golden Gloves boxer in his teens. Selected for his role in Love Story (for which he won an Oscar) out of a pool of 300 hopefuls. Considered for the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather, which eventually went to Al Pacino.

Longtime partner of 1970s sex symbol Farrah Fawcett, with whom he had a son. Love Story's Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal reunite in NYC | Daily Mail Online In the days before box-office smash romances involved whips and chains, and Fifty Shades Of Grey was something that happened to your hair, a classic tale of love and romance captured the hearts of an altogether more innocent generation. And the 1970 film Love Story is considered one of the most romantic of all time. On Wednesday the lead actors of the classic - Ali MacGraw, 76, and Ryan O’Neal, 73 - reunited in New York City. They wrapped their arms around each other and their body language proved the chemistry between them is as strong as ever.

Scroll down for video Love story: Love Story co-stars Ali MacGraw, 76, and Ryan O’Neal, 73, wrapped their arms around each other in New York on Wednesday The look of love: The duo as they were in the 45 year old classic, which is one of the biggest grossing films in US box-office history The duo are set to tour the United States together in the stage production of Love Letters, a tale of first loves and second chances which will no doubt inspire those who think their chance of love has passed them by. The three-times married actress’ hair may be whiter, but she still glows youthfully alongside her one-time on-screen lover, and delightedly touches her heart as they both beamed from ear to ear. Dressed in flattering black and grey, teamed with a pair of saucy over the knee leather boots, MacGraw could easily be mistaken for a woman 15 years younger than her 76 years.

50 Shades of Grey hair: MacGraw's long locks are now whiter, but she retains a youthful glow Clearly relaxed in each other’s company, she rested her hand affectionately on the shoulder of her former co-star, with her long hair swept back in a loose ponytail. The actress – who was once named as People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World – laughed and embraced her co-star at rehearsals in the City which will see them performing together again for the first time. The classic tear-jerker romance, which was released in 1970, earned them both an Oscar nomination, and spawned one of the most memorable – and mocked – film quotes of all time, ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry’. A sentiment which many would disagree with. Reunited: After 45 years, the stars of the romantic classic look delighted to be back together Youthful: The actress has battled drink and drug addictions, and credits yoga for her healthy glow Certainly there are no apologies needed for their reunion, which will delight fans of the tragic tale of love against the odds.

O’Neal, who played a struggling law student in the classic – which became one of the highest grossing films in US history, has had a recurring role in the TV series Bones since 2007. MacGraw, who was once married to Steve McQueen and played Lady Ashley Mitchell in the 80’s drama Dynasty, once struggled with alcohol and drug addictions and attended rehab. She says yoga is the secret to keeping her youthful looks. Romance: The film spawned one of the most memorable film quotes of all time, ‘Love means never having to say you’re sorry’ The chemistry could not be re-created: Love Story spawned a sequel in 1978 called Oliver's Story Love Story (1970) Love Story (1970) Pages: ( 1 ) Background Love Story (1970) is a sentimental, romantic tearjerker film from director Arthur Hiller about a tragic couple.

[Hiller had passed up the opportunity to work on The Godfather (1972) to make this film.] The melodramatic soap-opera, tremendously popular and a financial success (the top-earning film of the year) but panned by critics for its sappy content, was based upon Erich Segal's best-selling short novel of the same name. The film's tagline, "Love means never having to say you're sorry," appeared slightly differently in Segal's novelization: "Love means not ever having to say you're sorry." The catchy, haunting, piano-plinking score won the Best Original Score Oscar (the film's sole award) for Francis Lai from its seven Academy Awards nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Ryan O'Neal), Best Supporting Actor (John Marley), Best Actress (Ali MacGraw), Best Director (Arthur Hiller), and Best Original Story and Screenplay (Erich Segal). Beau Bridges, Michael York, Michael Douglas, Jon Voight, Michael Sarrazin and Peter Fonda all turned down the part of Oliver - which ultimately went to Ryan O'Neal.

This film rescued Paramount from total bankruptcy (it was the 9th most profitable studio at the time), and began an incredible streak of major successes under Paramount VP of development Robert Evans' stewardship, including Harold and Maude (1971), The Godfather (1972) , Play It Again, Sam (1972) , The Getaway (1972), Serpico (1973), The Great Gatsby (1974), Chinatown (1974) , Marathon Man (1976) and Black Sunday (1977). An inferior sequel was produced later in the decade - Oliver's Story (1978) pairing a still-grieving Ryan O'Neal with Candice Bergen. The Story Told as a flashback, this is an uncomplicated love story between two star-crossed lovers-students, Harvard pre-law hockey player Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O'Neal) and Radcliffe music student Jenny Cavalleri (Ali MacGraw). Oliver narrates the opening line of the film, looking back: 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? Their love triumphs over different economic-class backgrounds (he is a "preppie millionaire," she a smart-mouthed "social zero" from a blue-collar Italian/American family). Their main obstacle to romance is that his rich, powerful and snobbish father, Oliver Barrett III (Ray Milland) objects and threatens to cut off funding: "Oliver, if you marry her now, I'll not give you the time of day." To which the younger, bull-headed Oliver defiantly asks: "What offends you more, Father, that she's Catholic, or poor?" He ultimately responds: "Father, you don't know the time of day." There are a number of touching, oft-remembered kissing scenes in this tearjerker romance, including the major scene of the star-crossed couple walking across the Harvard campus and talking about their relationship. Oliver delivers a harsh ultimatum to Jenny: Look, Cavalleri, I know your game, and I'm tired of playing it. You are the supreme Radcliffe smart-ass - the best - you can put down anything in pants. But verbal volleyball is not my idea of a relationship.

And if that's what you think it's all about, why don't you just go back to your music wonks, and good luck. See, I think you're scared. You put up a big glass wall to keep from getting hurt. But it also keeps you from getting touched. It's a risk, isn't it, Jenny? At least I had the guts to admit what I felt. Someday, you're gonna have to come up with the courage to admit you care. They stop walking as she replies - simply: "I care" before they kiss. The scene dissolves into their nude embracing and kissing during love-making in his dormitory room. Shortly later in the film, in a snowy montage, they end up playing in the snow, throwing snowballs and tossing a football at each other, and wrestling together - as they kiss with flecks of snow on their faces. The two young lovers marry and first move into a small apartment in Cambridge before Oliver is hired by a New York law firm and they move to the city.

After meeting many obstacles and making sacrifices, including her turning down a trip to Paris to marry him, she is diagnosed as terminally ill ("very sick") when she is tested for pregnancy and fertility ("She's dying"). In a lengthy deathbed conversation with Oliver at the Mount Sinai Hospital in a tear-inducing closing, she tells him: "It doesn't hurt, Ollie, really it doesn't. It's like falling off a cliff in slow-motion, you know. Only after a while, you wish you'd hit the ground already, you know." He states he fell off a cliff when he met her. Then, she tries to bring up his spirits: Now you've gotta stop being sick...that guilty look on your face, it's sick. Would you stop blaming yourself, you god-damn stupid preppy. It's nobody's fault. It's not your fault. That's the only thing I'm gonna ask you. Otherwise, I know you're gonna be OK. (pause) Screw Paris!...Screw Paris and music and all that stuff you thought you stole from me. I don't care, don't you believe that? (He shook his head no) Then get the hell out of here.

I don't want you at my god-damn deathbed. He finally admits: "I believe you. I really do." She responds with a last request: "That's better. Would you please do something for me, Ollie? (He kisses her hand) Would you please hold me? (He half-heartedly hugs her) No, I mean really hold me. Next to me." He reclines next to her on the bed. Afterwards, in the hallway, Oliver speaks to Jenny's father Philip (John Marley), who says with a choked-up voice: "I wish I hadn't promised Jenny to be strong for you." As he leaves the hospital, he runs into his father, who asks: "Why didn't you tell me? I made a couple of calls, and as soon as I found out, I jumped right in the car. Oliver, I want to help." His son simply replies: "Jenny's dead." When his father begins to reply: "I'm sorry...," Oliver interrupts him and quotes his late wife's earlier remark: Love, love means never having to say you're sorry. This is the last line of film dialogue.

For the remaining three minutes in the touching finale, Oliver walks across the street to snow-covered Central Park as the poignant, award-winning "Love Story" theme music builds and he contemplates what life might have been like with Jenny, while sitting on a bench. The camera pulls away from him, shot from behind, before the closing credits. Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA Though his early career seemed to hold the promise of major stardom for actor Ryan O'Neal, matters didn't pan out and he has become more famous for his long-term live-in relationship with 1970s poster girl-turned-movie star-of-the-week actress Farrah Fawcett than any of his '80s and '90s films. Still, O'Neal is an appealing actor and his clean-cut good looks and reddish- blond hair give him an exuberant boyishness that belies his age. His first major role was that of Rodney Harrington on the television soap opera Peyton Place (1964-1969). O'Neal is the son of screenwriter Charles O'Neal and actress Patricia Callaghan O'Neal. A California native, he spent much of his childhood living abroad.

As a young man, O'Neal sometimes got into trouble and at one point served a 51-day jail sentence for assault and battery after getting into a fight at a New Year's party. Before becoming an actor, O'Neal was a lifeguard and an amateur boxer who was a one-time Golden Gloves contender. In film and television, O'Neal started out as a stunt man on Tales of the Vikings, a German television series. His parents were working on the same show. Upon his return to the States, O'Neal continued finding work in small parts on television shows, getting his first regular acting job on the Western Empire (1962). Following the demise of Peyton Place, O'Neal made his feature debut in The Big Bounce (1969), but did not get his big break until he was chosen from 300 auditioners to play Oliver Barrett opposite Ally McGraw in Arthur Hiller's maudlin adaptation of Erich Seagal's best-seller Love Story- (1970). The film was a smash hit and landed O'Neal an Oscar nomination.

Two more starring roles followed this success but it was not until he played an uptight professor who finds himself beleaguered by a free-spirited, love-struck Barbra Streisand in Peter Bogdanovich's What's Up Doc? (1972) that he rivaled the success of Love Story. It has been in light, romantic fare such as this that O'Neal has excelled. His next popular role was that of an exasperated con man in Paper Moon, the charming comedy that netted his co-star and real-life daughter, Tatum O'Neal, an Oscar. O'Neal then played the title role in Stanley Kubrick's slow-paced epic Barry Lyndon (1975). By the late '70s, O'Neal's career had gone into decline and he had begun appearing in such dismal outings as Oliver's Story (the 1978 sequel to his first big hit) and The Main Event (1979) which reteamed him with Streisand. The '80s were even tougher for O'Neal, even though he appeared regularly onscreen.

In 1989, O'Neal turned up in the wrenching made-for-TV-movie Small Sacrifices, which starred his lover Fawcett. Two years later, he and Fawcett starred in the short-lived television sitcom Good Sports. He followed that up with a part in the body-switch comedy Chances Are. In the nineties he appeared in the showbiz satire Burn Hollywood Burn, and the quirky detective tale Zero Effect. As the 21st century began he could be seen opposite Al Pacino in People I Know, and in the 2003 comedy Malibu's Most Wanted. After seven years away from screen, he appeared in 2012's Slumber Party Slaughter. Before hooking up with Farrah in the early '80s, O'Neal was married to actresses to Joanna Moore and Leigh Taylor-Young. His children from those marriages, Tatum and Griffin O'Neal, are both actors as is his brother Kevin O'Neal. Filmography Brig. Gen. James M.

Gavin 1977 Max Father Toby Coulter Max Keenan No Score Yet Love Story (1970) Starring: Ali MacGraw, Ryan O'Neal, John Marley - Three Movie Buffs Review Reviewed on: March 20th, 2013 Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal in Love Story. I don't really believe in the term, "Guilty Pleasure". I've always thought that if you enjoy a movie, or a song, or a book, then why feel guilty about it? Love Story though, is probably the closest I'll ever come to feeling a little bit embarrassed by how much I enjoy something. It's quite sappy and very, very dated, but I still enjoy it anyway. I even get misty-eyed every time at the film's conclusion. The plot is very simple and the key is in the title. It's the unabashedly romantic story of two young Ivy League students who meet in college, fall in love, get married and then face tragedy as the girl dies. That's not really a spoiler, since the movie opens with the famous line, “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?” Her death is baked into the plot from the very beginning. Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw star as the young lovers, despite both of them being older than their characters. MacGraw was 31, while O'Neal was in his late 20s, although both of them are able to play younger. They are both quite good in their parts and most importantly, they make you believe that these two young people are madly in love with each other, without which the film would just fall apart. Many aspects of the film are dated, but it's not the fashion or the hairstyles that make it seem so these days. It's the falling in love montage set to that famous theme tune and highlighted by the two of them making snow angels that comes across as the most 1970s. That and the touchy-feely, do it yourself wedding. The movie was made on the cheap, with a fairly small budget.

In fact, the production ran out of money and the scenes of O'Neal wandering the streets of New York City following Jenny's death, were shot illegally, with just O'Neal and a small crew because they couldn't afford the permits. To help garner publicity, screenwriter Erich Segal was asked by Paramount to turn his script into a book. It quickly became a bestseller. The film itself would go on to become the highest grossing film of the year and adjusting for inflation, is still one of the most profitable of all time. Two aspects of Love Story almost became more famous than the film itself and those are its theme tune and one line of dialogue. The tune, a simple piano melody, is instantly recognizable and was eventually given lyrics, turning into a hit for Andy Williams. The line of dialogue is, of course, “Love means never having to say you're sorry.” It's a line that will either make you groan or think of this movie fondly. The AFI voted it number 13 on their 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list. It's easy to watch this movie with a cynical eye or a cold heart.

Its simplistic tale of doomed, first love, is easy to poke fun of, but it's one that I fall for every time. Did you enjoy Scott's review? +11 Reviewed on: March 28th, 2013 Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw in Love Story. I agree Scott. Emotionally this movie works because it so beautifully illustrates the experience of first love and then it pulls the rug out from under the audience with the tragic ending. I find it amusing that although it suggests that Jenny has Leukemia, it is never specified and she seems to look quite healthy and beautiful right up until her final, deathbed moment. O'Neal and MacGraw have great chemistry together and you believe every moment of their romance. Yes it's cheesy but then falling in love is cheesy. Other than the central love story, this movie also deals with the relationships between fathers and their grownup children. Oliver is carrying around baggage from his childhood and the fact that his father seems to want to purchase for his son an easy way through life. Jenny's dad is down to earth and makes a game attempt to keep up with the changing times.

The scene where the young couple describe their wedding plans to him is quite touching. Phil (as Jenny calls her father) tries to be a good sport although it is clearly breaking his heart that his only daughter won't be getting married in a Catholic church. Both Ray Milland (in his first movie appearance without his toupee) and John Marley (Oscar nominated for this role) are very good as Oliver's and Jenny's fathers, respectively. Love Story also balances humor with drama quite nicely. It was a dramedy before the term was coined. I like the scene where Oliver takes Jenny to meet his parents (see photo) and she is stunned to see just how rich her boyfriend actually is. The scene that follows is well directed. We see Oliver and Jenny almost immediately back in their car discussing the visit on their way home, interspersed with scenes showing their interaction with Oliver's parents. Oliver spends the ride pointing out his parent's snobbishness while Jenny makes excuses for their behavior. This movie always reminds me of my parents. They saw it together back in 1970 and were deeply affected by it. I remember my mother commenting that there wasn't a dry eye in the theater.

What I find interesting is that my parents always seemed much older to me than O'Neal and MacGraw do in this movie, but in real life they are both younger. I guess that is because, as Scott pointed out, both actors were playing younger than their actual ages. It's interesting to compare the careers of Ryan O'Neal and Tommy Lee Jones. O'Neal was a huge star during the 1970s but was pretty much washed up as a leading man by the time he was in his mid-40s. Jones, on the other hand, didn't make it big until the 1980s when he was well into his 30s. He continues to have a hugely successful career today while O'Neal long ago became a washed-up has been. Love Story sits right at the crossroads between classic and modern film at least as far as Hollywood is concerned. In many ways -the theme song for one example- it is a throwback to the romances of an earlier era, but as far as the language is concerned it was quite modern.

Many famous people, including Richard Nixon, John Wayne and Nancy Reagan, all enjoyed the movie but voiced complaints about how much Jenny swears in it, which is quite amusing when you consider what was soon to come. The Exorcist was just around the corner after all. Today Love Story remains one of the quintessential tragic romances in motion picture history. Did you enjoy Patrick's review? +11 Reviewed on: June 30th, 2014 Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal in Love Story One of the most common complaints the threemoviebuffs have written about for romantic movies is that most films simply state that two people are in love without ever saying why. Here we see Jenny and Oliver meet and neither holds any punches with each other. She instantly recognizes that he is a preppy and it becomes her pet name for him. He, in return, enjoys her honesty and gives as much as he takes but tells her he wants more than just verbal sparring. That conversation leads to their first moment of sexual intimacy. They are open books to each other.

Although the, “Love means…” line is the most famous, I find the best one to be when Oliver says to Jenny, “How can you see me and still love me?” and Jenny responds with a smile, “That’s what it’s about preppy.” Is there a better description of true love than loving someone inspite of, or because of, their flaws? Oliver is attracted to Jenny’s foul mouthed honesty but her attempts to soften his approach to his father, is sometimes cause for friction. I found Oliver’s relationship to his father somewhat interesting yet manufactured. At one point, Jenny asks Oliver what he calls his father. Oliver responds, “A son-of-a-bitch.” As Patrick noted, Oliver’s father seems to want to pave an easy as possible path for his son. Oliver resents it as it comes with the price of great expectations, “I hate that he expects no less.” After having dinner with his parents, where his father offers to help him get into law school with his connections, Oliver tells Jenny on the drive home, “Jenny I don’t need that kind of help.” I found Oliver to be somewhat of a hypocrite at this point.

Everything he has, including that British MG sports car he is driving, is because of his father. Oliver likewise realizes the hypocrisy and so decides to go it without his father’s help and money, but he does keep the hot car. Oliver and Jenny marry and begin their adult lives of jobs, responsibilities and talk of having children. All of their dreams seem to be coming true. Then, the harsh news of Jenny’s health is revealed and the movie becomes a bit macabre as we know the end is coming. We start to look at her as Oliver does, like a bomb with a broken timer, not knowing when it will happen. This is your cue to grab the box of tissues. Although this is a movie about a couple, it truly is Oliver’s story and how his world was changed by this woman who came into his life like a gust of wind that blew away his confusion. Even on her death bed, she talks to him with brutal honesty, saying what he dares not. It was her love and blunt manners that captured his heart and made him the man that he became. It was her ailing health that forced him to ask for his father’s help. Only for Jenny, would he ever consider doing that.

I liked Oliver more than I ever thought I would. He was given all the gifts money and a famous name can provide but he remains a very sympathetic character. No wonder a sequel was made. The only flaw I found in this film was the cold actions of Oliver's father. He makes very little efforts to make amends with Oliver, even though Oiver became the very man he always wanted him to be. The only difference is that Oliver did it mostly on his own terms. Their conflict seems a bit forced for the sake of the story. For the record, I was only bothered by Jenny’s swearing when she did it in church directly to the members of the children’s choir. Tacky! Did you enjoy Eric's review? +6

Question: What is the title of the 1978 sequel to the 1970 film ‘Love Story’, starring Ryan O’Neal’?
Answer: Oliver’s Story