Why is this like a dark secret?
Its just a movie.
Love Storyis on its own blacklist, but I dont get why, he observed.
Ryan O’Neal and Ali MacGraw in ‘Love Story’Getty Images
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Why the mystery?
Every studio had rejected the screenplay, and seemingly every money actor had turned down the lead.
The movies original director had walked, saying the script was unsubstantial.
Ryan O’Neal conforts an ailing Ali MacGraw in ‘Love Story (Everett Collection)
Its writer had disavowed his credit.
ONeal himself had been told his key scene with co-star Ali MacGraw would be reshot.
It also had been rewritten with the influence of a new score.
ONeals obits suggest he landed theLove Storypart after an intense round of auditions.
Besides, with all its flaws,Love Storyrepresented effective counterprogramming to the several wannabeEasy Ridersuccessors in pre-production.
ButLove Storyhad to survive a chain reaction of disdain from story snobs.
Its author, Erich Segal, decided to forego credit until his novel hit the best seller list.
Segal, once the shy professor, found he liked doing the Today show and Johnny Carson.
He was effectively fired when Yale declined to pick up his tenure.
Hollywood was good to him, he acknowledged but it was a difficult relationship.
