The1970shave certainly been a golden decade in terms of movies. From ingenious comedies to extravagant musicals,the 10-year period boasts a long list of cults. Among these,romancesshine particularly brightly, offering narratives filled with passion and drama through unique stories that capture the nuances and complexities of human relationships.
However, not all thesemovies have happy endings. Many of the most romantic tales of the era embraced a different path from thetraditional rom-com’scheerful conclusion, and they opted for more dramatic, oftenrealistic resolutions, that would emphasize not just the beauty of love but also its complications and, sometimes, its fleeting nature. By focusing onthe fragile beauty of relationships and the pain of separation or loss, these films portray love’s impact on the human soul, even in its impermanence, making these stories profoundly memorable.
Love Story
Cast
Love Story, directed by Arthur Hiller, follows Harvard Law student Oliver Barrett IV and music student Jennifer Cavilleri as they navigate their intense romance despite contrasting backgrounds. Their marriage challenges family dynamics, particularly with Oliver’s wealthy father, leading to conflicts that test their devotion.
This beautiful romance follows Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal as Jennifer, an intelligent musician from a working-class background and Oliver Barrett, a rich Harvard law student. Despite their differences,the characters fall in love, defying societal expectationsand familial disapproval.
Love Story is a touching cult with a legacy that keeps on inspiring pop culture, serving as a testament to the multifaceted nature of love, emphasizing its simultaneous strength and fragility.
The movie portray the relationship in a deeply moving manner, highlighting their reciprocated devotion and loyalty. As the couple battles against the external forces attempting to put an end to their bond, a more cruel obstacle insinuates between them.Jennifer’s terminal illness is the final strand of the relationship, destroying the momentary happiness they believed they could obtain.
Oliver’s heartfelt grief in the final moments cements the film’s reputation as one of the most emotional stories of its time. With its tragic ending, Love Story is a touching cult with a legacy that keeps on inspiring pop culture, serving as a testament to the multifaceted nature of love, emphasizing its simultaneous strength and fragility.
A Swedish Love Story
A Swedish Love Story portrays the youthful romance between two teenagers amidst the complex and troubled lives of the adults around them. As they focus solely on each other, they remain oblivious to the world beyond their relationship.
This Swedish film, written and directed by Roy Andersson when he was only twenty-seven, depictsthe tender romance between two teenagers, Annika and Pär. The movie portrays the innocence and beauty of their relationship with subtlety and realism, capturing those simple moments of connection that define first love. The sweet and youthful demeanor and bond between the characters is a sharp contrast to the harsh domestic lives, an omen of a darker fate that expects them around the corner.
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As the story evolves, the weight of adulthood and pressures begins to overshadow their relationship.The film’s sad ending reflects the fleeting nature of youthful love, often doomed to fail since its origins. Rather than offering resolution, it leaves viewers with a sense of nostalgia and longing for a lost time, when love felt easy and pure.
Harold and Maude
Harold and Maude are a strange couple. He is young and obsessed with death. She is old and in love with life. Harold makes Maude laugh with tales of his failed suicides and she teaches the young man some life lessons. Little by little, they change each other’s lives.
One of the mostunconventional romances ever portrayed on screen,Harold and Maudedepicts the unlikely relationship betweena young man obsessed with death (Harold) and a vivacious 79-year-old womanwith an enthusiasm for life (Maude). The story evolves, and the lady teaches the boy to recognize his existence as a gift.
With irony and wit, the movie explores the tender bond the characters develop based on mutual respect, emotional vulnerability, and rejection of societal norms. The premise of the story already suggested there would not be a happily-ever-after type of finale. By the end of the movie, Maude, who has lived a fulfilling life, decides to depart on her terms.
Harold, as a consequence, had to deal with the griefof losing the person who taught him the value and joy of existence. However, he is also left with a beautiful memory and newly acquired wisdom. Through the sad, heart-wrenching ending,the romance explores themes of loneliness and acceptance, teaching its protagonist and the viewer to seize the moment.
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Sunday Bloody Sunday, released in 1971, explores the complex relationships between a divorced career woman, Alex Greville, and an artist, Bob Elkin, who is simultaneously involved with a middle-aged doctor, Daniel Hirsh. Alex and Daniel each cling to Bob as a source of renewal and liberation in their lives.
Upon release,Sunday Bloody Sundayreceived critical acclaim for its intelligent and socially aware portrayal of homosexuality, which was a more controversial subject in films of the 1970s. The drama followsthe story of a love triangle. Murray Head is a young man in his mid-twenties who has a relationship with a gay middle-aged Jewish doctor, Daniel (Peter Finch), and a divorced woman in her mid-30s, Alex. Bob is divided between his love for Daniel and his sexual attraction to women.
By the end of the movie, however, each character is left on their own. Daniel realizes that, despite their deep connection, his relationship with Bob is unfulfilling.Sunday Bloody Sundayexplores the limitations of loveand the inevitability of change. The love triangle comes to an end, leaving the protagonists and the viewers with a sense of melancholy.
The Way We Were
This romantic drama stars Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford as a politically active Jewish woman and a WASP, whose love is tested by their differing backgrounds and the political turmoil of their time.
One of the most beloved romances from the 1970s, the cult stars Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford as the leading characters. The plot follows Katie Morosky, a politically-active Jewish woman, and Hubbell Gardiner, a fascinating, carefree man from an affluent family. The movie explores their love story between the highs and the lows, their obvious mutual attraction, evolving interest and connection, but also their different values and how they keep on persisting and creating problems.
Despite the authenticity of their affection,the relationship between Katie and Hubbell crumbles under the pressure of real life’s challengesand the different approaches they adapt to deal with them. The sad ending captures the bittersweet essence of lost love and unfulfilled potential. Althoughthe romance is one of Barbra Streisand’s best movies,The Way We Wereleaves the viewers with an uncomfortable reflection: sometimes, love is not enough.
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby, released in 1974, is a drama directed by Jack Clayton, based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel. The film follows Nick Carraway as he navigates the opulent world of his enigmatic neighbor, Jay Gatsby, uncovering deep-seated obsessions and unfolding tragedies on Long Island.
Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel,the 1974 adaptation with Robert Redford and Mia Farrowhas brought to the screenthe tragic soul of the book. In either production, Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan do not get to live happily ever after. Gatsby, a wealthy but mysterious man, is driven by a love for Daisy, whom he met and fell for before going off to war.
When they reconnect, Gatsby believes he can recreate the past and win Daisy back, despite her marriage to Tom Buchanan. Unfortunately,the woman does not seem to love him as much as he loves her. In a sequence of misunderstandings and bad luck, tragedy strikes as Redford’s character is killed by George Wilson, Tom’s ally, who believes Gatsby is responsible for his wife’s death.
The film’s sad endings highlight the futility of Gatsby’s dreams and the destructive nature of his unattainable love for someone who does not truly reciprocate. Despite the mixed reviews it received, the movie’s heartbreaking resolution is a homage to Fitzgerald’s doomed love story.
A Star Is Born
A Star Is Born (1976) stars Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in a romantic drama centered around an established rock star who discovers and falls in love with a talented, up-and-coming singer. Directed by Frank Pierson, the film explores themes of fame, addiction, and the personal costs of success in the music industry.
Written and directed by Frank Pierson,A Star is Bornfollows seasoned rock musician John Norman Howard (played by Kris Kristofferson) as he falls in love with a talented and ambitious young singer, Esther Hoffman (Barbra Streisand). However, their paths soon begin to go opposite ways, as Esther rises to fame whileJohn’s professional and personal life spiral downward due to his struggles with alcoholism.
Their relationship is not an easy ride, and Esther tries to balance her success while caring for John. Regardless of their shared love, however, John is unable to fight his inner demons and ultimately keeps on falling into the downward spiral he is trapped in, leading to one of the most heartbreaking conclusions in the history of romantic dramas.
The film’s tragic ending underscores themes ofself-destruction, the cost of fame, and the limits of loveas a healing power. With an impeccable musical score and profoundly emotional performances that honor the tragic nature of the story,A Star Is Bornis a classic romance from the 1970s with a sad ending.
The Goodbye Girl
The Goodbye Girl, directed by Herbert Ross, follows an unemployed dancer and her daughter who are forced to share an apartment with a struggling off-Broadway actor after being abandoned by her boyfriend. The film explores the dynamics of their unconventional living arrangement and the evolving relationships between the characters.
This romantic comedy-drama stars Richard Dreyfuss and Marsha Mason as two unlikely roommates. Paula is a dancer who has recently been dumped by her boyfriend and who has a ten-year-old daughter. She ends up sharing her apartment with her ex-boyfriend’s new roommate, aspiring actor Elliot. Despite their initial conflicts and very different personalities, the two begin to develop a deep connection.
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However, the relationship between the two faces challenges as Elliot’s career and personal insecurities begin to interfere. In the end, although the film does not end in tragedy, there is a bittersweet taste to it, emphasized by Paula’s fear of abandonment and the fragility of relationships as Elliot has to leave for four weeks for a new job at an improvisational theatre.The Goodbye Girl is a poignant exploration of second chances and the difficulty of trusting othersafter being hurt, leaving viewers with a mix of hope and sadness about the potential for lasting love amidst life’s complexities.
Annie Hall
Annie Hall, directed by Woody Allen, stars Allen as comedian Alvy Singer and Diane Keaton as the titular character. The film explores the complexities of relationships through Alvy’s reflections on his romance with Annie, blending comedy and introspective drama. It won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is noted for its innovative narrative techniques and sharp dialogue.
Without any doubt, Woody Allen’sAnnie Hallbecame a groundbreaking phenomenon when it came out. The movie explores in an unprecedented way the complexities of love and relationships through the lens of neurotic comedian Alvy Singer and the witty, free-spirited Annie Hall, interpreted by Diane Keaton.
Annie Hallhas a 97% rating onRotten Tomatoes.
The film captures the nuances of a love story,from the passionate, optimistic beginning to its eventual unraveling with sharp irony and poignant realism. Because it defies expectations, Allen could not go for the classical rom-com happily ever after the finale. The film ends on a bittersweet note, as Alvy acknowledges that their love was special but ultimately not meant to last.
Annie Hallexplores the impermanence of romance, encouraging the characters and viewers alike to accept love’s fleeting nature and the inevitability of change in relationships.
In a painfully relatable way,Annie Hallexplores the impermanence of romance, encouraging the characters and viewers alike to accept love’s fleeting nature and the inevitability of change in relationships. With four Academy Awards (including one for Best Picture), theromance is a groundbreaking masterpiece that defies traditional happy endings.
Heaven Can Wait
Joe, a professional football player is mistakenly taken to heaven before his time. Given a second chance at life, Joe returns to Earth in the body of a recently murdered millionaire. As he navigates this new existence, he finds love and uncovers a plot against him.
Directed by Warren Beatty, who also stars as the main character, Joe Pendleton, and Buck Henry,Heaven Can Waitis an intelligent comedy-drama about a professional football player who is mistakenly taken to heaven by his guardian angel. After his premature death, Joe discovers that he was supposed to live until 2025 and is given a second chance to return to Earth through the body of Leo Jerome, a wealthy millionaire.
As Joe adapts to his new life yet refuses to give up on his old dreams, he falls in love with Leo’s widow, Betty.The film explores themes of love, fate, and the unpredictability of life.In the end, Joe is forced to make a difficult decision, sacrificing the memories of his past life to accept another chance on Earth. Although the film ends on a more hopeful note, the conclusion still has a bittersweet shade.
