Love Among the Ruins *** (1975, Katharine Hepburn, Laurence Olivier, Colin Blakely) – Classic Movie Review 10,372

Director George Cukor’s lovely, prestigious, award-winning 1975 American made-for-TV Edwardian period romantic comedy film Love Among the Ruins stars Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier, who light it up grandly. It premiered on the ABC TV network on 6 March 1975.

Hepburn plays aging London theatre star Jessica Medlicott, who hires barrister Sir Arthur Granville-Jones (Olivier) to defend her in a breach of promise suit by much-younger ex-fiancé seeking £50,000 in damages. She had seduced and abandoned Sir Arthur 40 years earlier but he has remained hopelessly in love with her, although she does not know this.

Hepburn and Olivier filming Love Among the Ruins (1975).

It won six Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Lead Actress and Actor in a Special Program – Drama or Comedy, Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Writing (James Costigan), Outstanding Art Direction (Carmen Dillon) and Outstanding Costume Design (Margaret Furse).

It is shot by Douglas Slocombe at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, with location work at St Pancras Station, London.

Also in the cast are Colin Blakely as J F Devine, Richard Pearson as Druce, Joan Sims as Fanny Pratt, Leigh Lawson as Alfred Pratt, Gwen Nelson as Hermione Davis, Robert Harris as The Judge, Peter Reeves as Maiden, John Blythe as Tipstaff, Arthur Hewlett as The Usher, John Dunbar as Clerk of the Court and Iain Sinclair as Pratt’s Solicitor.

It is topped off with a John Barry score.

Cukor and Hepburn went on to make The Corn Is Green (1979) together.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,372

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