A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
Synopsis
One of the most moving stories in the annals of sports is presented in this true drama documenting the love affair of baseball immortal Lou Gehrig and his wife Eleanor. Their romance spans the time period from his days of glory with Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees to his unsuccessful battle with an incurable disease. As the story begins, the talented but shy Gehrig is already a popular Yankee slugger when he meets the outgoing Eleanor. Their romance begins hesitantly, but blossoms as they exchange letters while Gehrig is on the road with the team. However, Gehrig's possessive mother becomes a formidable obstacle, first to their marriage and later to their happiness. But their love for one another proves triumphant. In the midst of their happiness, when Gehrig is at the peak of his career, he learns that he is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The courage and dignity exhibited by the Gehrigs during this crisis make this a powerful, memorable film.
Top Cast
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Blythe Danner
Eleanor Gehrig
Edward Herrmann
Lou Gehrig
Gerald S. O'Loughlin
Joe McCarthy
Ramon Bieri
Babe Ruth
Jane Wyatt
Eleanor's Mother
Patricia Neal
Mrs. Gehrig
Georgia Engel
Claire Ruth
Michael Lerner
Dr. Canlan
David Ogden Stiers
Dr. Charles Mayo
Gail Strickland
Dorothy
Valerie Curtin
Kitty McHie
Jennifer Penney
Jennifer
Lainie Kazan
Sophie Tucker
James Luisi
Lazzeri
Joe E. Tata
Gomez
William Wellman Jr.
Dickey
Charles H. Gray
Kenderly
Frederic Downs
Papa Gehrig
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Fielder Cook
- Screenplay & Story
- Blanche Hanalis, Joseph Durso, Eleanor Gehrig
- Original Score
- Eddy Lawrence Manson
- Original Title
- A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 36m
- Production Studios
- NBC, Charles Fries Productions, Stonehenge Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Fielder Cook
Blanche Hanalis, Joseph Durso, Eleanor Gehrig
Eddy Lawrence Manson
Michel Hugo
David Newhouse
Richard Berg, Charles W. Fries, David Manson
Department Leadership Roster
Fielder Cook
Director
David Manson
Producer
Michel Hugo
Director of Photography
David Newhouse
Editor
Eddy Lawrence Manson
Original Music Composer
Frank Novak
Costume Design
Toby Gardener
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story.
Featured In Curated Collections
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Frequently Asked Questions About A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story about?
One of the most moving stories in the annals of sports is presented in this true drama documenting the love affair of baseball immortal Lou Gehrig and his wife Eleanor. Their romance spans the time period from his days of glory with Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees to his unsuccessful battle with an incurable disease. As the story begins, the talented but shy Gehrig is already a popular Yankee slugger when he meets the outgoing Eleanor. Their romance begins hesitantly, but blossoms as they exchange letters while Gehrig is on the road with the team. However, Gehrig's possessive mother becomes a formidable obstacle, first to their marriage and later to their happiness. But their love for one another proves triumphant. In the midst of their happiness, when Gehrig is at the peak of his career, he learns that he is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The courage and dignity exhibited by the Gehrigs during this crisis make this a powerful, memorable film.
Who directed A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story?
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story was directed by Fielder Cook.
Who stars in A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story?
The principal cast of A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story includes Blythe Danner, Edward Herrmann, Gerald S. O'Loughlin, Ramon Bieri, Jane Wyatt.
When was A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story released and how long is it?
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story was released in 1978 with a total runtime of 1h 36m.
Who composed the musical score for A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story?
The original motion picture soundtrack for A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story was composed by Eddy Lawrence Manson.
Is A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story based on a book or true story?
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story is adapted from the following source material: Book: "Joseph Durso", Book: "Eleanor Gehrig".
What is the age rating and content advisory for A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story?
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).