This heady mixture of love and life-threatening illness was roundly condemned by critics in its day, but nevertheless became a massive box-office hit (the memorable score by Francis Lai was even rewarded with an Oscar). But it has to be taken at face value or not at all. If, on the one hand, you drown in the excess of the ill-starred romance between tragic Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal, you'll require two boxes of Kleenex. But if, on the other, you bring even the remotest hint of cynicism to bear, it will grate like fingernails on a blackboard. And you must remember that this was made at a time when everyone was drooling over O'Neal.

Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV and music student Jennifer Cavilleri share a chemistry they cannot deny - and a love they cannot ignore. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the young couple put their hearts on the line for each other. When they marry, Oliver's wealthy father threatens to disown him. Jenny tries to reconcile the Barrett men, but to no avail.