Please, if one of us cries, let both of us cry. But preferably neither of us.
Erich Segal, Love Story
There has hardly been a book lover and a sucker for romance stories in the prime of his/her youth in the 1970’s who had not been swept away by the ineffable charm of the unusual romance depicted in Erich Segal’s bestselling romance ‘Love Story’ (1970). Even decades later, readers, young and old alike have lapped up the bittersweet, tragic saga of love between Oliver Barrett IV, a Harvard jock and heir to the Barrett fortune and legacy, and Jennifer Cavilleri, the quick-witted daughter of a Rhode Island baker.
This year, as ‘Love Story’ (both the novel and film) completes fifty years after its publication and release, isn’t it pertinent that we ask what is so special about this novel that has made it one of the most adored romances in modernist fiction? Is it because the cinematic adaptation of ‘Love Story’ released in the same year, starring the charmers Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal as Oliver and Jenny struck a chord deep within the audience with the portrayal of kindred souls, defying adversities with unflinching love? Is it because of the wonder of love, attraction, shared passion for life and the abrupt end of life is indefatigable chemistry that never fails to amaze, never goes out of fashion for generations to come?
The Novel ‘Love Story’ versus the Film ‘Love Story’:
The question is, was the novel published first, and subsequently the film adaptation happened, following the literary success? The answer is ‘NO’ since Erich Segal was not only an accomplished author and academician of Harvard University but a highly successful screenwriter of his times who originally wrote the book as a screenplay which later received approval from Paramount Pictures for film production. In fact, the romance novel ‘Love Story’ was published during the Valentine’s Day, February 14 at the request of Paramount as they wanted the book to be kind of a prequel or preview of the film that released in December of the same year.
The plot of ‘Love Story’ and the protagonists:
The blurb of the romance novel explains the theme of ‘Love Story’ in this very poignant, catchy description:
“Opposites in nearly every way, Oliver and Jenny are kindred spirits from vastly different worlds. Falling deeply and powerfully, their attraction to one another defies everything they have ever believed—as they share a passion far greater than anything they dreamed possible . . . and explore the wonder of a love that must end too soon.”
The stormy romance between Oliver and Jennifer aka Jenny blooms amid the eclectic settings of Harvard college and Radcliffe college, two avant-garde undergraduate institutions in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Oliver, the son of an upper-class business family in the east coast who plays ice-hockey, becomes smitten by the charm, the defiant spirit of Jenny, a quick-witted, Radcliffe college student of classical music who has ambitions of studying in Paris. However, destiny has other plans; their lives intertwine as they marry against parental wishes, with Oliver severing ties with his parents. Thereafter, when they are on the verge of settling down with jobs, with dreams of expanding the family, tragedy strikes as Jenny is diagnosed with cancer. The most moving moments of the romance are centered on the developments that take place after this diagnosis, the battle with cancer that tears their lives apart, but at the end, which connects them with intense emotions as Jenny understands she will now cross over to the other world. In the final scene, when after Jenny’s death, Oliver says to his father: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”, walking back alone to the outdoor ice rink, a site where the bond between Jenny and Oliver grew, the audience is beset with indescribable emotions.
A touching soundtrack, a tribute to ‘Love Story’:
In spite of the critics of those times who rubbished the film, like Gary Arnold of Washington Post and Judith Crist of Newsweek, who labelled ‘Love Story’ as “thoroughly resistible sentimental movie”, the film ended up being an instant box office smash and also remained with the audience for years and decades. Also, for the records, it was the most successful Paramount movie up to that time, with seven Academy Award nominations, including the Best Picture award.
In the final analysis, ‘Love Story’ worked to create magic because it portrayed the bittersweet, flesh and blood world of the lovers, with unbridled energy and emotions. A romantic tearjerker, it happens to be a heartfelt tale of love of a lifetime. In its 50th birth anniversary, we salute Erich Segal, the writer and Arthur Hiller, the filmmaker who collaborated for this mesmerizing on-screen romance!
References: