What can you say about 40 years ago today?
That Ali MacGraw played a co-ed in love with Ryan O’Neal, and said co-ed, well, “What can you say about a 25-year-old girl who died?”. That she loved Mozart , and the Beatles, and me…
At the time, I think it was released in Beirut (played at the Concorde FOREVER) in 1972, it was a huge worldwide hit. And I loved it, I watched it maybe four years ago and it made me cry AGAIN. It triggers a time and place deader than your memories of youth are.
And the music by Francis Lai? I know nothing about Lai except I bet he did a lot after writing this soundtrack for a rich/poor, dumb jock/ smart four eyes, , angels in the snow, “I care” “Love means…” . They meet on Harvard’s campus. They fight. they fall in love. They fight. She dies of cancer. They stop fighting.
Sweet as can be. “Love means…”
Andy Williams sung the smashrino title song (Oscar winner by the way). Words by Carl Sigman, Music by Francis Lai. All priceless priceless stuff…
“With her first hello
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
There’d never be another love, another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart”
She gave new meaning to this empty world of mine
There’d never be another love, another time
She came into my life and made the living fine
She fills my heart”
The living fine?
Anyway, it was a kinder, gentl… No, actually, it wasn’t a kinder gentler anything BUT it was in this movie.
And I can still remember, Oliver Something the Other the III finding out, and buying tix so Ali can go to visit Paris, which she gave up to marry Ollie/Ryan.
“I don’t want Paris. All I want is you.”
“Well, you got me, baby”
“And time…”
Half an hour later Ollie and Patriarch of the family are making up.
Daddy says: “I’m so sorry,”
Ryan says: “Love… Love means…”