The first time I heard about Love Story was during college (not too long ago) when my friend (now a reporter, who kindly brings me along when she watches a movie) introduced me to a book that I did not realize would give me the time of my life.
Not that I am a sucker for love stories or anything, but I was captured by the simplicity and reality of it, and that there was something special about it.
Written by award-winning author Erich Segal, I finished the book as fast as my eyes could travel across the page. After some time, since the movie was shown eight years before I was born, I started hunting for a VCD copy so that I could watch it this time–on the screen. And I succeeded, and I again, was enthralled by it.
In this 1970 surprise-hit weepie, Arthur Hiller was fortunate enough to be in the director’s chair for that year’s biggest flick, Love Story, which earned him an Oscar nomination. (This enormously successful film inspired a sequel, Oliver’s Story.) Ali MacGraw, whose film role as Jenny Cavailleri, was unquestionably the best among the lot. Her portrayal of a charmingly foul-mouthed, slowly-dying character earned her an Oscar nomination.
Ryan O’Neal did not get his big break until he was chosen from 300 auditioners to play Oliver Barrett IV and landed an Oscar nomination.
This magnum opus of a movie was a nominee for Best Picture in the Oscars, won Best Picture for Drama in the Golden Globe Awards, and was voted by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures as one of the Ten Best Films.
Interestingly enough, Harvard cum laude Tommy Lee Jones appeared in Love Story, his first film, listed way, way down the cast list as one of Ryan O’Neal’s fraternity buddies. Another trivia: while Jones was at Harvard, he and roommate (future) ex-US VP Al Gore provided the models for author Erich Segal while he was writing the character of Oliver, the book’s (and film’s) protagonist.
One of French composer Francis Lai’s best-known scores was from Love Story. He won the Oscars and the Golden Globe. I mean, I am sure you would remember these opening lines, with Love Story’s theme playing in the background:
"What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died?
That she was beautiful.
And brilliant.
That she loved Mozart and Bach.
And the Beatles.
And me."
Oliver Barrett IV went to Harvard and Jenny Cavailleri to Radcliffe. He was rich, she was poor. He was sporty, she played music. But they fell in love. This is their story.
Who would forget the immortal line, and the movie’s catchphrase, "Love means never having to say you’re sorry"? It has been used over and over again for the longest time! I do not intend to transcribe the whole story but forgive me, but I just have to write this down, to refresh the memory, to relive the unassuming kilig moment again in that afternoon in the college library:
Jenny: You look stupid and rich.
Ollie: I’m actually smart and poor.
Jenny: Oh no, Preppie. I’m smart and poor.
Ollie: What the hell makes you so smart?
Jenny: I wouldn’t go for coffee with you.
Ollie: Listen, I wouldn’t ask you!
Jenny: That is what makes you so stupid!
And so they went out for coffee. This, after falling in love, sticking by and with each other, despite the objection of Ollie’s parents to their relationship (he must take up law first before anything else), after getting married (despite the arguments every once in a while, financial or otherwise), after Ollie becomes a full-fledged lawyer, after trying to have a child of their own but failling.
After discovering that Jenny was suffering from leukemia, Ollie was devastated. Then, with eyes closed, he finally decided to ask for his father’s help for his wife’s hospitalization.
Still, Jennifer died in Oliver’s arms.
What can you say about a movie that was so moving and touching?
That it was beautifully done. And funny. That it was loved by many, including me.
Jenny may not have much time in her hands, but she loved Oliver so much until her very last breath. Oliver may not have the precious time in his hands but he loved Jenny so much until the very last second.
They may not have spent life together for as long as they want but they had so much love to live for. They may have lived a complicated life together but they, needless to say, were there for each other.
As what I have read somewhere, Love Story is optimistic without being inane, and profound without being pretentious. It seems droll to take note of the story’s turn of events–quite effortless–rich boy meets poor girl, boy and girl fall in love, boy’s parents disapprove, boy and girl rally against difficulties, girl becomes ill, boy becomes hopeless, girl dies, boy is distressed. End of story.
But why is Love Story special?
I don’t know really. But it gives me a great feeling of being in love and not worrying about anything, even the impossible– to just be in love.
Love Story has taught me to continue loving, even when it seems you’ve reached the end of the road, and there’s nothing you can possibly do anymore.
After all, the greatest gift is love.