Love Among the Ruins (1975) (TV)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

George Cukor

Writer:

James Costigan (writer)

Release Date:

6 March 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

Plot:

An aging actress is being sued for breach of promise. She hires as her lawyer a man who was an ex-lover and is still in love with her...

Plot Keywords:

Actress | Love | Lawyer | Breach Of Promise | Lost Love

Awards:

Won 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Katharine Hepburn	...	Jessica Medlicott
Laurence Olivier	...	Sir Arthur Glanville-Jones
Colin Blakely	...	J.F. Devine
Richard Pearson	...	Druce
Joan Sims	...	Fanny Pratt
Leigh Lawson	...	Alfred Pratt
Gwen Nelson	...	Hermione Davis
Robert Harris	...	The Judge
Peter Reeves	...	Maiden
John Blythe	...	Tipstall
Arthur Hewlett	...	The Usher
John Dunbar	...	The Clerk of the Court
Ian Sinclair	...	Pratt's Solicitor
Mervyn Pascoe	...	1st Barrister
Colin Thomas	...	2nd Barrister

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Portugal:M/4

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

ABC Circle Films

Trivia:

Originally intended as a vehicle for legendary husband and wife performers of the Broadway stage, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "ER: Love Among the Ruins (#1.23)" (1995)

Edwardian Romance from a couple of Edwardians

Both Sir Laurence Olivier and Katharine Hepburn were born in 1908 which would have had them make their earthly debuts during the reign of Edward VII. I guess it's fitting that they do their one an only film together in a romantic comedy about two elderly people brought together by a lawsuit.

Hepburn's solicitor, Richard Pearson, brings Hepburn and Olivier together. Hepburn is being sued for alienation of affections by a young man who swears she promised marriage to him, he who is old enough to be her grandson. Olivier is a barrister of great repute and they happen to be neighbors on the same block in London.

What Pearson doesn't know and Hepburn seems to have forgotten was that a long time ago, almost forty years, Olivier was a young law student in Toronto who was crushing out big time on young actress Hepburn. Like a good stage door Johnny, Olivier waited for her and had evening out with her and never saw her after that. She married a wealthy title and Olivier went on to a great legal career, but he's been crushing out on her since.

In today's terminology they would call the suit against Hepburn palimony. The trial portion of the film is the best with Hepburn almost seeming to work at cross purposes with her own attorney. The opposing barrister is Colin Blakely who played a lot of sleazy types in films. If the British have lawyer jokes in their culture, Blakely would seem like a great candidate. The man just oozed shyster from his very pores.

Thirty years earlier had this film been made it would have had a theatrical release. Movie public tastes change so it got relegated to the made for TV status. Still though with the presence of those two star names it should not be missed.

Love Among the Ruins was directed by George Cukor and deserved Emmys were won all around, by Cukor, Olivier, and Hepburn. They should all get our thanks for showing that quality still had an audience.