The 1981 classic movie Endless Love starring Brooke Shields, was released internationally in February of 1981. The teenage love story directed by Franco Zeffirelli grossed $32 million worldwide, which was considered a huge success for its time.
The movie follows the story of two young teens in bloom, Jade and David, who meet each other at a summer party and quickly fall madly in love with each other. Unfortunately, their passionate romance is met with disapproval from Jade's horrified father figure played by the film's co-star, Don Murray. Jade and David must now choose between staying together and fighting for their love or stepping apart to preserve the authority of her father.
The movie is referred to as an 80s classic due to its 80's pop soundtrack consisting of Diana Ross' title song Endless Love and other 80s tracks such as "If You Leave Me Now" by Chicago that truly bring the romantic scenes to life. Despite its popularity during its released year, the movie has managed to pull at those same heartstrings today; it has been remade twice since then – once in 1998 and once before that in 1994 – making sure that these classic themes will never be forgotten!
How old was Brooke Shields when she starred in Endless Love?
Brooke Shields is an acclaimed actress and model who has been in the spotlight since she was a child. However, many people may not remember that Brooke Shields was just 14 years old when she starred in the 1981 romantic drama Endless Love.
At just 14 years old, Brooke Shields was able to portray the mature themes of falling in love and loss that feature prominently in this classic movie. Director Franco Zeffirelli was so impressed by Brooke's skills and maturity, that he later said "she had this serenity and self-confidence that made her more adult to me than any other young cast member I ever worked with."
This timeless story of first love tells the tale of two star-crossed young lovers played by Brooke and her co-star Martin Hewitt. The two actors' relationship nearly filming reflects their characters' situations, as they bonded on set, leaving audiences enthralled with their electric chemistry. In fact their relationship tragically ended shortly after filming wrapped.
At age 14, playing such a mature role enabled Brooke to prove her talent and dedication to her craft at an early age, thus making her a Hollywood icon for many years since!
Who co-starred with Brooke Shields in Endless Love?
Brooke Shields is best remembered for her leading role as Jade Butterfield opposite Christopher Atkins in the 1981 romantic drama Endless Love. Although Shields received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress for her performance, most people forget about the supporting cast that shared the screen with her.
First up is Martin Hewitt, who played Jade's lovestruck teenage admirer and eventual boyfriend, David Axelrod. Hewitt had previously been seen in Comeback Kid and Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone before starring in Endless Love.
Next was Jamison Newlander as David's best friend, Billy. This marked Newlander's film debut; he would go on to appear in franchises like The Lost Boys (1987) and National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon (1993).
The fourth lead was Don Murray as Dr. Hubert Axelrod, David's father and a prominent psychiatrist who disapproved of his son’s relationship with Jade. Though Murray was an experienced actor with two Oscar nominations under his belt at this point, many people associate him primarily with his role as the stern father in Endless Love — a role that earned him a Saturn Award nomination.
Finally there was Harry Dean Stanton as Geoffrey Butler, Dr. Hubert Axelrod’s sports-loving colleague with financial aspirations for his daughter (played by Kristy McNichol). Though at this point Stanton had over sixty acting credits to his name, many moviegoers younger than 35 might remember him better from his appearances as quirky characters later in his career—like “Bert” from Big Love (2006-2011) or “Carson Wells” from No Country for Old Men (2007).
What was the title of the song featured in the movie Endless Love?
Released in 1981, the romantic drama Endless Love featured "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie as the central theme song. While the ballad resonates in the minds of almost anyone who has ever seen the movie, few know that there actually is no title to this song other than just "Endless Love." Written and produced by Richie, this moving love song combines Ross’s smooth crooning with a passionate expression of one’s devotion to their partner.
The song quickly became an international hit and reached number one on both US and Canadian pop charts, making it one of Lionel Richie’s most successful singles in over two decades. Complemented by Diana Ross for duet vocals, “Endless Love” has become a cornerstone of romantic repertoire. The couple even performed the song on several occasions, including legendary telecasts such as “Solid Gold” and “The American Music Awards.”
Overall, this timeless love song has stood the test of time perfectly, being widely regarded as one of the greatest romantic ballads of all time. This incredible duet is without a doubt about true, everlasting love that continues regardless of any turbulence or difficulties life throws in its path. To many young viewers who watched Endless Love at its theatrical release more than three decades ago, this heart-wrenching soundtrack holds fond memories - memories that will stay forever in hearts around the world.,
Who wrote the screenplay for the movie Endless Love?
The 1981 classic romantic drama movie Endless Love was written by Judith Rascoe and novelist Scott Spencer. Rascoe wrote the screenplay with the help of contributions from the novels writer, Spencer. The movie stars Brooke Shields as Jade and Martin Hewitt as David and it follows the story of two teenagers that battle social pressures, parental expectations, and adversity as they discover their intense love for each other.
Rascoe's script perfectly captures the novel's power to weave an emotional yarn in which love conquers all. Her writing highlights the challenges and obstacles that these young lovers face, while staying true to Spencer’s original novel. Despite of the disapproving reactions that the couple faces from their parents, they still forged ahead with their relationship. Rascoe's writing showcases the courage it takes to be vulnerable to another person – even if it means facing certain disapproval from those around you.
The screenplay for Endless Love had a lasting impact on viewers at its release back in 1981, and lives on with movies audiences today. Not only did it affect people’s perspective about love itself but also paved a powerful message about standing firm despite all adversity. Judith Rascoe is thus considered a pioneer among screenwriters in conveying such powerful messages along with intense emotions at its full potential with this movie’s powerhouse script.
How did the critics rate the movie Endless Love?
Since the release of the 2014 film version of Endless Love, critics have had a wide range of opinions on the remake of the classic romantic tragedy. Reviews from top critics were split with some loving the heart-warming story line while others found it lacking in originality and lacking in punch.
The New York Times chief film critic A. O. Scott gave the movie two out of five stars citing that it lacked 'dramatic complexity or depth' as well as finding fault with 'by-the-numbers pop songs, too many scenes of deep soulful gazing into each other’s eyes and an overqualified cast.'
The Los Angeles Times called it an ‘uneven if ultimately sweet film', which was echoed by Variety who called it an 'unevenly executed examination' which rated two and a half stars. Their critic John Defore also praised lead actor Alex Pettyfer for his nuanced performance but found fault for thinly written characters and bluntly directed scenes.
On the positive side, Rotten Tomatoes aggregated reviews sites saw it almost splitting squarely down the middle awarding a 50% rating with The Verge's verdict being that ‘it’s worth your time, even if only to see what could have been.’
Sources
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- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Love_(2014_American_film)
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