The Movie
Like a lot of blockbusters, Love Story was the right movie at the right time. Arriving after the conclusion of the tumultuous '60s, it is at once a very modern exploration of changing times and the generation gap, but also a timeless, bittersweet boy-meets-girl tale. In a brilliant bit of marketing, writer Erich Segal completed his screenplay then adapted it into a novel which was released before the film and became a runaway bestseller, setting the stage for the film's tremendous success.
Ryan O'Neal is Oliver, a poor little Harvard rich boy who hates his father primarily because that's the fashionable thing to do. Ali MacGraw is Jenny, the rich little poor girl who loves her dad because he did a wonderful job raising her into the confident young woman she is now. Along with O'Neal, MacGraw was actually nominated for an Oscar, which seems odd today as her performance--not helped by the endless over-the-top sassiness of her character--is often hard to swallow. Worth noting: At the time, she was married to Paramount's head of production Robert Evans, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood.
The two come from different sides of the tracks but throughout their courtship and marriage they manage to overcome all of the obstacles that their disparity entails. Like all love stories however, this one ends badly, as they face one crisis that even love can't conquer. The plot is not much, rather the many different relationships in the couple's lives are what Love Story is all about.
The Picture
The 16:9 HD presentation suffers from its share of distracting grain. The extent varies, but process shots (as during the titles) are particularly unpleasant. Fine lines and subtly gradated skies are also prone to some video noise, while soft glows like headlights in the mist are prone to a hard ringing. I did appreciate the surprising amount of detail in the image, and that slightly muted, naturalistic palette of the early '70s is always welcome. The quality of blacks leans toward the harsh, but at least they have an organic appearance.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix features quite a few effects re-channeled to the surrounds, from the clinky, chatty noises of a coffeehouse to the crowd at a hockey game to birds chirping in a courtyard or a quiet neighborhood. In-scene music (a song playing at Jenny's dormitory) shows a noticeable left/right separation in the rears, but less-impressive is the Oscar-winning musical score by Francis Lai which displays neither wide dynamic range nor an enhanced spread. The movie is largely dialogue-driven, and it's mostly legible.
The Extras
The two real bonuses here were originally produced for the 2001 special edition DVD but are certainly welcome on Blu-ray. "Love Story: A Classic Remembered" (15 minutes, standard definition) blends an on-camera interview with director Arthur Hiller and copious clips from the film. He does however repeat quite a bit of the insight that comprises his full running audio commentary. A pity that neither star, both still with us, was involved.
Giving credit where it's due, Paramount does present the three-minute Academy Award nomination trailer in high definition.
Final Thoughts
Love Story beats the odds by juxtaposing harsh reality with the type of witty banter that only exists in movies. The movie is stylistically dated certainly, but plenty of romantics will no doubt be excited to find this serviceable Blu-ray under the Valentine Tree.
Product Details
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