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Endless Love
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Franco Zeffirelli
Produced by	Keith Barish Dyson Lovell
Written by	Judith Rascoe (screenplay) Scott Spencer (novel)
Starring	Brooke Shields Martin Hewitt Tom Cruise
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
IMDb • Allmovie

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.

It was the third high publicity film of Brooke Shields after Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon. Given the somewhat high critical opinion of Franco Zeffirelli and the source novel, the film was considered especially disappointing, although there was advance feeling that the sensibilities of Zeffirelli were a poor match for this book.

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).

[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] Differences between the film and the book

The book and film differ enormously in several respects. A great deal of the film is a prequel to the novel in which the action begins with David burning down the Butterfield's house. The novel is set in the 1960s, and Jade is a classic Woodstock-era flower child, not the typically middle-class suburban girl of the film which is set in the 1980s. The novel is largely told from the point of view of David, while the film is largely told from the point of view Jade. The two do not reconcile at all in the novel, but it is at least suggested that they will in the film.

[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.

The film was shot on location in Chicago, 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] Soundtrack

For further info see Endless Love (soundtrack).

[edit] Reception

Despite being panned by numerous critics, Endless Love was a financial box office success, it grossed $31,184,024 in the U.S. alone (the 22nd highest grossing film of 1981).

[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

• Young Artist Awards

Nominee: Best Young Motion Picture Actor - Martin Hewitt

Nominee: Best Young Motion Picture Actress - Brooke Shields

• 1981 Golden Raspberry Awards

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

[edit] External links

• Endless Love at the Internet Movie Database
• Endless Love at Allmovie
• Endless Love at Rotten Tomatoes