Love Story (1970 film)
Updated: 12/20/2025, 12:59:02 PM Wikipedia source
Love Story is a 1970 American romantic drama film directed by Arthur Hiller, adapted by Erich Segal from his 1970 novel. It stars Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal, and features John Marley, Ray Milland and Tommy Lee Jones in his film debut. The film is about a relationship between two students at Harvard College - the upper-class Oliver Barrett IV (O'Neal) and the working-class Jenny Cavilleri (MacGraw) - which is eventually affected by tragedy. The film was released by Paramount Pictures on December 16, 1970. It was a major critical and commercial success, and was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (for O'Neal), and Best Actress (for MacGraw). The film's theme song, "(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story", was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Love Story proved a pop culture sensation of the 1970s, spawning several imitations, parodies, and homages, and is credited with having re-energized the cinematic melodrama in Hollywood. A sequel film, Oliver's Story, followed in 1978. The film is considered one of the most romantic by the American Film Institute (No. 9 on the list) and is one of the highest-grossing films of all time adjusted for inflation.
Infobox
Directed by
Arthur Hiller
Screenplay by
Erich Segal
Based on
Love Storyby Erich Segal
Produced by
Howard G. Minsky
Starring
mw- Ali MacGraw Ryan O'Neal John Marley Ray Milland
Cinematography
Richard Kratina
Edited by
Robert C. Jones
Music by
Francis Lai
Productioncompanies
Paramount PicturesLove Story Company
Distributed by
Paramount Pictures
Release date
December 16, 1970 (1970-12-16)
Running time
101 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$2.2 million
Box office
$173.4 million
Tables
· Reception › Accolades
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Date of ceremony
April 15, 1971
Category
Best Picture
Recipients
Howard G. Minsky
Result
Nominated
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Date of ceremony
Arthur Hiller
Category
Nominated
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Date of ceremony
Ryan O'Neal
Category
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Date of ceremony
Ali MacGraw
Category
Nominated
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Date of ceremony
John Marley
Category
Nominated
Best Story and Screenplay – Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced
Best Story and Screenplay – Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced
Award
Best Story and Screenplay – Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced
Date of ceremony
Erich Segal
Category
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Date of ceremony
Francis Lai
Category
Won
David di Donatello Awards
David di Donatello Awards
Award
David di Donatello Awards
Date of ceremony
June 29, 1971
Category
Best Foreign Actor
Recipients
Ryan O'Neal
Result
Won
Best Foreign Actress
Best Foreign Actress
Award
Best Foreign Actress
Date of ceremony
Ali MacGraw
Category
Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Date of ceremony
March 12, 1971
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Recipients
Arthur Hiller
Result
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Date of ceremony
February 5, 1971
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Recipients
Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Date of ceremony
Ryan O'Neal
Category
Nominated
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Date of ceremony
Ali MacGraw
Category
Won
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Award
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Date of ceremony
John Marley
Category
Nominated
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Best Director – Motion Picture
Date of ceremony
Arthur Hiller
Category
Won
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Award
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Date of ceremony
Erich Segal
Category
Won
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Award
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Date of ceremony
Francis Lai
Category
Won
Golden Screen Awards
Golden Screen Awards
Award
Golden Screen Awards
Date of ceremony
1972
Category
Golden Screen
Recipients
Won
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards
Award
Grammy Awards
Date of ceremony
March 14, 1972
Category
Best Instrumental Composition
Recipients
Theme from Love Story – Francis Lai
Result
Nominated
Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special
Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special
Award
Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special
Date of ceremony
Love Story – Francis Lai
Category
Nominated
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Award
Best Pop Instrumental Performance
Date of ceremony
Theme from Love Story – Henry Mancini
Category
Nominated
Laurel Awards
Laurel Awards
Award
Laurel Awards
Date of ceremony
1971
Category
Best Picture
Recipients
Nominated
Top Male Dramatic Performance
Top Male Dramatic Performance
Award
Top Male Dramatic Performance
Date of ceremony
Ryan O'Neal
Category
Nominated
Top Female Dramatic Performance
Top Female Dramatic Performance
Award
Top Female Dramatic Performance
Date of ceremony
Ali MacGraw
Category
Nominated
Top Cinematographer
Top Cinematographer
Award
Top Cinematographer
Date of ceremony
Richard C. Kratina
Category
Nominated
Top Composer
Top Composer
Award
Top Composer
Date of ceremony
Francis Lai
Category
Nominated
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Date of ceremony
January 3, 1971
Category
Top 10 Films
Recipients
8th Place
Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America Awards
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards
Date of ceremony
1971
Category
Best Drama – Written Directly for the Screen
Recipients
Erich Segal
Result
Nominated
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipients | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | April 15, 1971 | Best Picture | Howard G. Minsky | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Arthur Hiller | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Ryan O'Neal | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Ali MacGraw | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | John Marley | Nominated | |||
| Best Story and Screenplay – Based on Factual Material or Material Not Previously Published or Produced | Erich Segal | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Score | Francis Lai | Won | |||
| David di Donatello Awards | June 29, 1971 | Best Foreign Actor | Ryan O'Neal | Won | |
| Best Foreign Actress | Ali MacGraw | Won | |||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | March 12, 1971 | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Arthur Hiller | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards | February 5, 1971 | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Ryan O'Neal | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Ali MacGraw | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | John Marley | Nominated | |||
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Arthur Hiller | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Erich Segal | Won | |||
| Best Original Score – Motion Picture | Francis Lai | Won | |||
| Golden Screen Awards | 1972 | Golden Screen | Won | ||
| Grammy Awards | March 14, 1972 | Best Instrumental Composition | Theme from Love Story – Francis Lai | Nominated | |
| Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special | Love Story – Francis Lai | Nominated | |||
| Best Pop Instrumental Performance | Theme from Love Story – Henry Mancini | Nominated | |||
| Laurel Awards | 1971 | Best Picture | Nominated | ||
| Top Male Dramatic Performance | Ryan O'Neal | Nominated | |||
| Top Female Dramatic Performance | Ali MacGraw | Nominated | |||
| Top Cinematographer | Richard C. Kratina | Nominated | |||
| Top Composer | Francis Lai | Nominated | |||
| National Board of Review Awards | January 3, 1971 | Top 10 Films | 8th Place | ||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 1971 | Best Drama – Written Directly for the Screen | Erich Segal | Nominated | |
· Reception › Accolades › American Film Institute
2002
2002
Year
2002
Category
AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions
Nominee
Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal
Rank
9
2005
2005
Year
2005
Category
AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes
Nominee
"Love means never having to say you're sorry"
Rank
13
| Year | Category | Nominee | Rank |
| 2002 | AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions | Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal | 9 |
| 2005 | AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes | "Love means never having to say you're sorry" | 13 |
Professional ratings · Soundtrack
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
Weekly chart performance for Love Story · Soundtrack › Charts › Weekly charts
Argentine Albums Chart
Argentine Albums Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Argentine Albums Chart
Peakposition
2
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Chart (1970–1971)
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)
Peakposition
18
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1970–1971)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
9
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1970–1971)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
11
French Albums Chart
French Albums Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
French Albums Chart
Peakposition
6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1970–1971)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
12
Italian Albums (Discografia internazionale)
Italian Albums (Discografia internazionale)
Chart (1970–1971)
Italian Albums (Discografia internazionale)
Peakposition
1
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)
Chart (1970–1971)
Italian Albums (Musica e dischi)
Peakposition
1
Spanish Albums Chart
Spanish Albums Chart
Chart (1970–1971)
Spanish Albums Chart
Peakposition
1
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1970–1971)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
10
| Chart (1970–1971) | Peakposition |
| Argentine Albums Chart | 2 |
| Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | 18 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 9 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | 11 |
| French Albums Chart | 6 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 12 |
| Italian Albums (Discografia internazionale) | 1 |
| Italian Albums (Musica e dischi) | 1 |
| Spanish Albums Chart | 1 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 10 |
Year-end chart performance for Love Story · Soundtrack › Charts › Year-end charts
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1971)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Position
67
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1971)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Position
32
| Chart (1971) | Position |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 67 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 32 |
References
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/16/movies/16minsky.html
- Love Storyhttps://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/love-story-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0yode0odu
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1970-12-30_261_7/page/3/mode/1up
- Variety
- Box Office Mojohttps://web.archive.org/web/20120628045843/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm
- The Author Speaks: Selected PW Interviews, 1967-1976https://archive.org/details/authorspeakssele0000unse/page/138/mode/1up?q=%22love+story%22+%22arthur+hiller%22+%22erich+segal%22
- Tablethttps://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/love-story-janet-sussman
- Oggi
- The Directors: In Their Own Wordshttps://archive.org/details/directorsintheir00emer/page/284/mode/1up?q=%22love+story%22+%22arthur+hiller%22
- Star-Gazette
- The Guardian
- The Los Angeles Times
- Evans 1994, pp. 174–175.
- Los Angeles Times
- The Los Angeles Times
- Evans 1994, p. 182.
- Evans 1994, p. 177.
- Los Angeles Times
- Evans 1994, p. 180.
- The Los Angeles Times
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/kevin-oneal-dead-no-time-for-sergeants-1235313290/
- The Harvard Crimsonhttps://web.archive.org/web/20120303202552/http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/1999/9/21/university-hollywood-relationship-not-always-a/
- Cambridge Dayhttps://www.cambridgeday.com/2021/07/19/the-agassiz-neighborhood-starred-in-love-story-alongside-ryan-oneal-ali-macgraw-and-harvard/
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-03-22_266_6/page/5/mode/1up
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1972-12-13_269_5/page/26/mode/1up
- Variety
- Los Angeles Times
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-01-13_261_9/page/22
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1970-12-30_261_7/page/12/mode/2up
- Kine Weekly
- Varietyhttps://archive.org/details/sim_variety_1971-01-13_261_9/page/12
- Variety
- Variety
- The Director Within: Storytellers of Stage and Screenhttps://archive.org/details/directorwithinst0000eich/page/13/mode/1up?q=%22love+story%22+%22arthur+hiller%22
- Shoot Out: Surviving Fame and (Mis)fortune in Hollywoodhttps://archive.org/details/shootoutsurvivin00bart/page/18/mode/2up?q=%22love+story%22+%22arthur+hiller%22+%22erich+segal%22
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/love_story/
- RogerEbert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/love-story-1970
- Los Angeles Times
- In the Kingdom of the Lonely Godhttps://books.google.com/books?id=MoNNtTp6fcIC
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1970/12/18/archives/screen-perfection-and-a-love-storyerich-segals-romantic-tale-begins.html
- Chicago Tribune
- The Washington Post
- Reverse Angle: A Decade of American Filmhttps://archive.org/details/reverseangledeca0000simo
- The Telegraphhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/people/beauty-flashback-ali-macgraw-straight-hair/
- Mad
- Peoplehttps://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-milk-money-vol-42-no-11/
- For Roseannahttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/for-roseanna-1997
- "The 43rd Academy Awards (1971) Nominees and Winners"http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1971
- Directors Guild of America Awardshttps://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1970s/1970.aspx?value=1970
- HFPAhttps://www.goldenglobes.com/film/love-story
- National Academy of Recording Arts and Scienceshttps://www.grammy.com/awards/14th-annual-grammy-awards
- National Board of Reviewhttps://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1970/
- wga.orghttps://archive.today/20121205095022/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551
- McKinney, Raymond. Love Story (Music from the Original Soundtrack) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved 27 July 2023.https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000320721
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=sAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=tggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45
- Australian Chart Book 1970–1992
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Francis Lai – Love Story" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved July 27, 2023.https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Soundtrack+/+Francis+Lai&titel=Love+Story&cat=a
- Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=290
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=uggEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack / Francis Lai – Love Stor" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 27,https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-67170
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=sAgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49
- M&D Borsa Album 1964–2019
- Billboardhttps://books.google.com/books?id=2AgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2023.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19710704/7502/
- "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1971"https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1971&cat=a
- "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts 1971"https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1971
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/love-story-fatal-attraction-parallax-view-italian-job-flashdance-tv-shows-a-go-at-paramount
- The Carol Burnett Show
- National Posthttps://nationalpost.com/news/the-jennifer-epidemic-how-the-spiking-popularity-of-different-baby-names-cycle-like-genetic-drift
- RNZhttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/406866/qasem-soleimani-burial-stampede-kills-56-mourners
- TIFF Originalshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lbg54tnj_g&ab_channel=TIFFOriginals
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/movies/22love.html