LOVE STORY
US, 1970, 100 minutes, Colour.
Ali Mc Graw, Ryan O'Neill, John Marley, Ray Milland.
Directed by Arthur Hiller.
Love Story has had the fortune or misfortune to become a legend at the beginning of its lifetime. It is very hard to judge it objectively so much fuss has been made about it and so much money has it earned.
Its basis was a formula screenplay by Harvard classical scholar, Erich Segal, who then wrote it up in novel form to take the world's bestseller lists by storm. As the novel is short, very short, it could be read in association with the film discussion, preferably after the film has been seen.
There certainly have been better and deeper love stories, but this one is as good or as bad as any other popular one. The older generation wept at it because it was a relief from the frankness in art of the late 60's. Perhaps younger audiences identified with it for its romance (although the heroine is an externally tough, swearing, ironic-remark-making girl and the hero plays dirty at sport); if they did not, they could have been cynical at the WASP (White, Anglo- Saxon, Protestant) Harvard values and world-view that it offered. Some of the heart-burning American social concerns were mentioned, but they barely intruded on the love and struggling lives of Oliver and Jennifer.
Music is Francis Lai award-winning themes. Dialogue is frequently trite, corny or expletive. Love and death are geared to draw the audience tears. The principal characters are quite attractive (and were nominated for Oscars, as was John Marley as Phil, as was the film itself) and director, Arthur Hiller keeps the pace moving. (Hiller, director of The Americanisation of Emily, Popi, The Out of Towners, helped production costs by agreeing to take a percentage of earnings instead of a salary!)
What will audiences think in five, ten, twenty .... years' time?
1. Is this a very good film, average, or poor? Why?
2. If there had not been so much publicity for the film, do you think it would have drawn a big following on its own merits?
3. Is the film a satisfying love story? What are the usual ingredients of a love story? Are they here?
4. What are the best ingredients of a love story? Are they here?
5. What kind of picture of American society 1970 does the film give? Is it an adequate picture of American society? Are any important facets omitted or glossed over?
6. Did you like Oliver? Was he an attractive personality? Did he have a strong character? How did family background, wealth, playing sport, relationship with his father, dating of Jenny throw light on his character?
7. Did you like Jenny? (was she attractive? Was her rough, swearing, behaviour a sign of strength of character? How did her family background, average income, musical studies, pursuit of Oliver throw light on her character?
8. Were they idealists? Here they real (many critics called them 'plastic people' who never came alive)? Were they typical of College and University students?
9. Did Oliver and Jenny genuinely love each other? Why did they choose to have the marriage ceremony as they did? Did Jenny's reciting of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's words convince you?
10. Contrast the two fathers. Why did they appear so different? Why was Oliver Barrett Sr. so unsympathetic, while Phil Cavalleri was so likeable?
11. Was Barrett Sr. fair in disinheriting Oliver?
12. How happy was Oliver and Jenny's married life? Why were they happy?
13 Why did they quarrel? Jenny says that love means never having to say you're sorry. What does she mean? Is she right? She also said she tried never to hurt anyone.
14. How did Jenny face up to her death? Well? What about her religion? She said she was formerly a Catholic but did not believe in God. Did she make a religious show in her illness just for her father?
15. How did Oliver face her death? Did he do the right thing? Should he have been reasonable with his father earlier?
16. Was the death sequence too drawn out or too unrealistically romantic?
17. Is the film sentimental? Can you see why people cried so much an its first release?
18. Do you think the film corresponded to a more romantic mood of the times?
19. Comment on the effect of the music; on the impact of lines like 'She loved Mozart, Bach, the Beatles and me.' 'I 'm studying; I 'm really studying. ' 'Love means never having to say you're sorry. '
20. This was a love story of our times. It was a story of marriage. What values of love and marriage did it communicate? Did Oliver and Jenny 's love impress you as so complete that it was unique and permanent?
21. Do you think the film and the performances merited nominations for Oscars?
