Love Among the Ruins (1975) (TV)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073310/
Love Among the Ruins is a 1975 television film (1975) directed by George Cukor a
nd starring Katharine Hepburn and Sir Laurence Olivier.
Katharine Hepburn ... Jessica Medlicott
Laurence Olivier ... Sir Arthur Glanville-Jones
Colin Blakely ... J.F. Devine
Richard Pearson ... Druce
Joan Sims ... Fanny Pratt
Leigh Lawson ... Alfred Pratt
Gwen Nelson ... Hermione Davis
Robert Harris ... The Judge
Peter Reeves ... Maiden
John Blythe ... Tipstall
Arthur Hewlett ... The Usher
John Dunbar ... The Clerk of the Court
Ian Sinclair ... Pratt's Solicitor
Mervyn Pascoe ... 1st Barrister
Colin Thomas ... 2nd Barrister
Set in Edwardian England, Love Among the Ruins tells the story of Jessica Medlic
ott (Hepburn), an aging grande dame of the London theater. When Medlicott is acc
used by a young man of seducing and then abandoning him, she retains the service
s of the greatest barrister in Britain (Olivier), who turns out to be a former s
uitor still in love with her.
James Costigan's script for Love Among the Ruins had been written for Alfred Lun
t and Lynn Fontaine, but when the famed couple retired from the stage, the proje
ct was shelved.
It was Katharine Hepburn's idea to involve Laurence Olivier in the project; she
had always wanted to work with the legendary British actor.
Known for his sense of humor, Cukor thought that the title was a "little tricky,
" because they were all of a "certain age." Cukor was 76, and Hepburn and Olivie
r each 68.
Shooting at London's Pinewood studios went on for six weeks. The script was shot
pretty much in sequence, except for the exterior shots. Cukor asked the TV peop
le, "How does one shoot for television" They said, "Shoot it just the way you wo
uld shoot a picture." Cukor did not have to modify his style in any way. There w
as no reason to modify; the film was rather small, with most of the story set in
courtroom.
The charismatic presence of the two stars almost redeemed the foolish plot. Inde
ed, telecast on March 6, 1975, Love Among the Ruins received mixed reviews. One
critic remarked, none too kindly, that Cukor should have switched the profession
s of the two protagonists to make them more convincing.
This is an actor's film, as Cukor was always known as an actor's director and ha
s always worked especially well with Hepburn. The film's main appeal in its 'bat
tle of sexes' story is to relish in how Hepburn toys with Olivier's love, while
he uses the debate weapons that made him a successful lawyer to try and win her
over. The trial itself might as well be about their love, as the once-poor lover
s seem to be on trial to clear the air from the past. This is Cukor's last impre
ssive film and he uses it to favor the prim upper class combatants while he dump
s on the poorer striving lower class ones who oppose them, as he makes them into
cartoonish fortune hunters. It's a touching story that unfortunately exudes lit
tle warmth. Cleverness replaces warmth as the way to win the love of an aging up
per class beauty in Victorian England.
The show took home several Emmy Awards, including Hepburn and Olivier for Outsta
nding Performance, and Cukor for Outstanding Directing.
American Cinema Editors, USA
1976 Nominated Eddie Best Edited Television Special John F. Burnett

Emmy Awards
1975 Won Emmy Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design - For a
Dramatic Special or Feature Length Film Made for Television Carmen Dillon (art
director) Tessa Davies (set decorator)
1975 Won Emmy Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design Margaret Furse (costume
designer) Tied with Guy C. Verhille for The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975) (TV
).
1975 Won Emmy Outstanding Directing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy Geor
ge Cukor
1975 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actor in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy Lau
rence Olivier
1975 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy K
atharine Hepburn
1975 Won Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy - Orig
inal Teleplay James Costigan (writer)
1975 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Special - Drama or Comedy Allan Davis (producer
)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
1975 Won Special Award George Cukor

Peabody Awards
1976 Won Peabody Award