The Notebook (2004)

A poor yet passionate young man falls in love with a rich young woman, giving her a sense of freedom, but they are soon separated because of their social differences.

Director:

Nick Cassavetes

Writers:

Jeremy Leven (screenplay), Jan Sardi (adaptation)

Stars:

Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Rachel McAdams

12 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Ivey	...	Rower
Gena Rowlands	...	Allie Calhoun
Starletta DuPois	...	Nurse Esther
James Garner	...	Duke
Anthony-Michael Q. Thomas	...	Nurse Keith
Ed Grady	...	Harry
Renée Amber	...	Nurse at Counter
Jennifer Echols	...	Nurse Selma
Geoffrey Knight	...	Barker
Kevin Connolly	...	Fin
Ryan Gosling	...	Noah
Heather Wahlquist	...	Sara Tuffington
Rachel McAdams	...	Allie
Andrew Schaff	...	Matthew Jamison III
Matt Shelly	...	Seabrook Boy

Storyline

In a nursing home, resident Duke reads a romance story to an old woman who has senile dementia with memory loss. In the late 1930s, wealthy seventeen year-old Allie Hamilton is spending summer vacation in Seabrook. Local worker Noah Calhoun meets Allie at a carnival and they soon fall in love with each other. One day, Noah brings Allie to an ancient house that he dreams of buying and restoring and they attempt to make love but get interrupted by their friend. Allie's parents do not approve of their romance since Noah belongs to another social class, and they move to New York with her. Noah writes 365 letters (A Year) to Allie, but her mother Anne Hamilton does not deliver them to her daughter. Three years later, the United States joins the World War II and Noah and his best friend Fin enlist in the army, and Allie works as an army nurse. She meets injured soldier Lon Hammond in the hospital. After the war, they meet each other again going on dates and then, Lon, who is wealthy and ...

---

Plot Keywords:

letter | second chance | summer love | class differences | nursing home | 

---

Taglines:

Behind every great love is a great story.

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Warner Bros [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 June 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Diario de una pasión

Filming Locations:

Cypress Gardens - 3030 Cypress Gardens Road, Moncks Corner, South Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$29,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,464,745, 27 June 2004, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$81,001,787

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$116,072,707

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema,Gran Via,Avery Pix

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling were both born in London, Ontario, Canada. Walt Whitman, quoted in the classroom scene ("Do I contradict myself?") and other parts of the movie, had a long friendship with 19th century London, Ontario, psychiatrist Dr. Maurice Bucke, which was depicted in the film Beautiful Dreamer (2006).

---

Goofs

The position of Allie's left earring changes from two pearls on top and on the bottom to one on the top and two on the bottom.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Nurse Selma: Excuse me. Come on, honey, let's get you ready for bed

---

Connections

Featured in Quiet Ryan (2011)

---

Soundtracks

Diga Diga Doo
(uncredited)
Performed by Rex Stewart

User Reviews

Unabashedly Romantic and Sentimental. It's Storytelling at its Best

This story plays out as Duke, played by James Garner, reads a story about two young people in the 1940s who fall in love and endure life. The movie moves between present-day and the 1940s. It is structurally very similar to "Fried Green Tomatoes", which is also one of my all time favorite movies.

Unlike "Fried Green Tomatoes", this focuses on young love as it grows and endures through wars and parental dissent. Sure, the core is the "Romeo and Juilet" theme, but the way is plays out and the exceptional charisma that the actors bring to the screen make it feel fresh and not entirely predictable. This is a deeply romantic movie. If you are cynical at all about romance, timeless love and dedication to another person, you may find yourself rolling your eyes a bit. I am not that cynical about the emotional ties that bind us and I was thoroughly taken in by the story.

This is such a gentle movie. The characters are very human and very likable. All of the actors turn in engrossing and compelling performances.

Technically, this movie is exceptional, too. The scenes during the opening credits is absolutely breathtaking. The editing is very good. The story is compelling from the opening credits to the closing credits.

My wife and I don't always share the same perspective on movies, but we agreed on this one. We both loved it immensely. I am certain this will become part of our permanent collection.