Saturday Nine: The Theme from Love Story (1970)

This week's Saturday Nine:


(Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.)

1. The very popular tagline for this movie is, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Here's your chance to rewrite it. "Love means _____________________." Acceptance, trust, passion, and mutual respect.
   
   
2. The movie was famous for a montage of the lovers frolicking in the snow. Do you enjoy sledding, skating, skiing, snowball fights, snowmen, etc.? Or do you just want spring to hurry up and get here? I used to love sledding, skating, skiing, and other snow-related activities when I was a kid, but I don't really care to do any of that as an adult. And as it's -25°C outside right now, I'm gonna say I just want spring to get here.
   
   
3. In the movie, Oliver asks his father for $5,000. The money is required for wife Jenny's hospital treatment, but Oliver is too proud to tell his father why he needs it. Adjusted for inflation, $5,000 in 1970 is $30,000 today. How much would you be willing to lend a friend or family member without knowing the reason? Assuming I had the money, I'd be willing to lend any amount within my means to a family member in need, but probably not more than a couple hundred to a friend. I've learned from experience that friends and money are never a good mix. (Also because hospital treatments are free here, so I know it'd be for some random sketchy reason.)
   
   
4. In the movie, Jenny is the daughter of a baker who owns a little shop in Cranston, Rhode Island. Think of the last baked goods you consumed. Were they home made? Did you buy them from a bakery, the grocery store, or a coffee shop, like Starbucks? I had fresh-baked banana bread from Cultures this afternoon and it was freaking delicious.
   
   
5. In 1970, when the movie was first released, California's First Lady Nancy Reagan said she liked it but was upset to hear Ali MacGraw's character swear. What's the curse word you use most often? Fuck. Because it can be used in so many ways, you know?
   
   
6. Now 75, Ali MacGraw has let her famous hair go gray. She says she's glad to "look like a grown up." Do you feel your age? Or older or younger than your years? Yes and no. As I'm approaching 30, I often feel less "adult" than many of my peers; I'm not married, I don't have kids, I don't have a mortgage, etc. But then I look back on my life, and I've also accomplished a lot of things and have had a lot of experiences that a lot of my peers don't. I think it ultimately depends on who I surround myself with. I can feel older or younger depending on who I'm hanging out with.
   
   
7. MacGraw and her Love Story co-star Ryan O'Neal are currently on tour in the play, Love Letters, and they're drawing big crowds of fans who remember them in their famous film. Tell us of another movie couple you felt had romantic chemistry. Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The Notebook. It's a big cheesefest, of course (it is based off of a Nicholas Sparks novel, after all), but the chemistry between those two is palpable. To me, they will never have that kind of on-screen chemistry with any other actor/actress than with each other. Ironically, they hated each other when they worked on the film together. And then somehow ended up dating each other for two years afterwards. Funny how love works.
   
   
8. Red is the signature colour of Valentine's Day. Are you wearing red right now? Nope.
   
   
9. Because Valentine's Day is such a big day for chocolate... would you prefer a large, solid milk chocolate heart or a small box of four assorted chocolates? I'm not huge on chocolate, but I guess I'd take a small box of four assorted chocolates. I get sick of milk chocolate really fast.