''Love Among the Ruins'' is a 1975 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made fo ...

romantic comedy film Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

directed by

George Cukor George Dewey Cukor (; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO when David O. Selznick, the studio's Head ...

and starring Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier which premiered on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

on March 6, 1975.

Plot

The story is set in 1911, at the end of the

Edwardian period The Edwardian era or Edwardian period of British history spanned the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910 and is sometimes extended to the start of the First World War. The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 marked the end of the Victori ...

. Jessica Medlicott is an aging grande dame, formerly an actress of the London theatre, accused of having met, courted, promised marriage to, and then jilted and abandoned her suitor. The much-younger ex-fiancé then files suit, seeking £50,000 in damages for the

breach of promise Breach of promise is a common law tort, abolished in many jurisdictions. It was also called breach of contract to marry,N.Y. Civil Rights Act article 8, §§ 80-A to 84. and the remedy awarded was known as heart balm. From at least the Middle ...

by her. She retains the greatest barrister in the empire, Sir Arthur Granville-Jones, to defend her. He is incidentally also a man she seduced and abandoned 40 years earlier, but who has remained hopelessly in love with her ever since.

Cast

Katharine Hepburn Laurence Olivier Love Among the Ruins 1975

* Katharine Hepburn as Jessica Medlicott * Laurence Olivier as Sir Arthur Granville-Jones *

Colin Blakely Colin George Blakely (23 September 1930 – 7 May 1987) was a Northern Irish actor. He had roles in the films '' A Man for All Seasons'' (1966), '' The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes'' (1970), '' Murder on the Orient Express'' (1974), and '' ...

as J. F. Devine * Richard Pearson as Druce *

Joan Sims Irene Joan Marion Sims (9 May 1930 – 27 June 2001) was an English actress, best remembered for her roles in the ''Carry On'' franchise, appearing in 24 of the films (the most for any actress). On television, she is known for playing Gran i ...

as Fanny Pratt *

Leigh Lawson Allan Leigh Lawson (born 21 July 1945) is an English actor, director and writer. Life and career Lawson was born in Atherstone, Warwickshire. He initially studied at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts before training further at the Royal Aca ...

as Alfred Pratt *

Gwen Nelson Gwendoline Alexandra Nelson (30 June 1901 – 15 October 1990) was an English actress who was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court Theatre Company. Born in Muswell Hill, London, she originally intended to be a singer, ...

as Hermione Davis * Robert Harris as The Judge * Peter Reeves as Maiden * John Blythe as Tipstaff *

Arthur Hewlett Arthur Hewlett (12 March 1907 in Southampton, Hampshire – 25 February 1997 in London) was a British actor. Hewlett made his stage debut in 1930 at Plymouth Rep, and his theatre work included the original British production of Bernard Shaw ...

as The Usher * John Dunbar as Clerk of the Court * Iain Sinclair as Pratt's Solicitor * Mervyn Pascoe as 1st Barrister * Colin Thomas as 2nd Barrister * Lincoln Wright as 3rd Barrister * Edward Arthur as 4th Barrister * John Bromley as 5th Barrister * Leslie Southwick as 6th Barrister * Stanley Platts as Foreman of the Jury * Philip Lennard as 1st Reporter * Peter Lund as 2nd Reporter *

Frank Forsyth Frank Forsyth (19 December 1905 – 2 May 1984), sometimes credited as Frank Forsythe, was an English actor, active from the 1930s. He was born on 19 December 1905 in London, England. He appeared in several TV programmes, including '' Department ...

as Jessop * John G. Heller as Head Waiter * Rosamond Burne as 1st Woman Spectator * Coral Fairweather as 2nd Woman Spectator * Jacqueline Clarke as Miss Pratt * T. C. Hogan as Teplow

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* * * {{George Cukor 1975 television films 1975 films 1970s romantic comedy-drama films British romantic comedy-drama films Emmy Award-winning programs Peabody Award-winning broadcasts Films set in the 1910s Films set in 1911 Films set in England Films shot in England Romantic period films Films directed by George Cukor Films shot at Pinewood Studios ABC Motion Pictures films 1970s British films British drama television films

Plot

Cast

Awards and nominations

See also

References

External links