Endless Love (film)
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| Endless Love | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Franco Zeffirelli |
| Produced by | Keith Barish Dyson Lovell |
| Written by | Judith Rascoe (screenplay) Scott Spencer (novel) |
| Starring | Brooke Shields Martin Hewitt |
| Music by | Lionel Richie Jonathan Tunick |
| Cinematography | David Watkin |
| Editing by | Michael J. Sheridan |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios PolyGram Filmed Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | July 17, 1981 (USA) |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Gross revenue | $33,000,000 |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Endless Love is a 1981 American romantic drama film directed by Franco Zeffirelli, starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt. The screenplay by Judith Rascoe was adapted from the novel by Scott Spencer. The original music score was composed by Jonathan Tunick. The film was marketed with the tagline "She is 15. He is 17. The love every parent fears."
Although the film was not a success, the film's theme song by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie, also called "Endless Love", became a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the biggest-selling single in Ross' career.
As of 2008, the film has yet to be released in the United States on DVD (Region 1).
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[edit] Plot summary
In Chicago, Jade Butterfield and David Axelrod, both teenagers, fall in love. Their consuming, passionate love becomes dangerously obsessive, especially for David. Jade's family is known in their community for a bohemian lifestyle; they even allow David to make love with Jade in her bedroom. In contrast to the openness of her family, David's home life is dull; his parents are radical political activists who ignore him. When Jade's mother goes downstairs one night, she sees Jade and David make love in her living room, and starts living vicariously. When Jade's father tries to stop them from seeing each other, David accidentally burns down the Butterfields' house. For this, he is sent to a mental hospital for the next two years and is forbidden to contact Jade ever again.
When David is released on parole, he goes to look for Jade and remains obsessed with her. In Manhattan, Jade's mother tries to seduce David, but he refuses and tells her that he can make love only with Jade. In a chance meeting, Jade's father is hit and killed by a car after running into the street to chase after David. David tries to explain to Jade's family that this was an accident, but her brother Keith falsely accuses him of murder, and David is arrested by the police. Sent to prison, David seems doomed never to see his beloved again. Jade, though, comes to realize that no one will ever love her like David does and goes to him.
[edit] Main cast
- Brooke Shields .... Jade Butterfield
- Martin Hewitt .... David Axelrod
- Shirley Knight .... Ann Butterfield
- Don Murray .... Hugh Butterfield
- Richard Kiley .... Arthur Axelrod
- Beatrice Straight .... Rose Axelrod
- James Spader .... Keith Butterfield
- Ian Ziering .... Sammy Butterfield
- Penelope Milford .... Ingrid Orchester
- Tom Cruise .... Billy
- Jami Gertz .... Patty
- Jeff Marcus .... Leonard
- Walt Gorney .... Passerby
[edit] Production
Endless Love was the feature film debut for a number of actors, including Tom Cruise, Jami Gertz and Jeff Marcus, and features very early appearances by James Spader, as the elder brother of Brooke Shields, and of a pre-Beverly Hills 90210 Ian Ziering. Gertz and James Spader would reunite six years later for the film drama Less Than Zero. Martin Hewitt beat out 5,000 different actors (including Cruise) for the lead role.
The film film was shot on location in Chicago, Illinois, New York City, and Long Island. The film was noted to have one of the most spectacular one-man stunt displays when Hugh Butterfield gets hit by a car in New York. The stuntman does a high end-over-end flip in mid-air.
[edit] Reception
[edit] Awards and nominations
- Winner: 1981 ASCAP Award, Lionel Richie, Endless Love
- Nominee: 1982 Academy Award for Best Song, Lionel Richie, Endless Love
- Winner: 1982 American Movie Award, Marquee Award, Lionel Richie, Endless Love
- Nominee: 1982 Golden Globe Award, Best Original Song - Motion Picture, Endless Love
- Nominee: Best Young Motion Picture Actor - Martin Hewitt
- Nominee: Best Young Motion Picture Actress - Brooke Shields
- Nominee: worst Actress - Brooke Shields
- Nominee: worst Director - Franco Zeffirelli
- Nominee: worst New Star - Martin Hewitt
- Nominee: worst Picture - Dyson Lovell
- Nominee: worst Screenplay - Judith Rascoe
- Nominee: worst Supporting Actress - Shirley Knight
