A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story (1978)
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.
Director: Fielder Cook
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Blythe Danner as Eleanor Gehrig |
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Edward Herrmann as Lou Gehrig |
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Gerald S. O'Loughlin as Joe McCarthy |
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Ramon Bieri as Babe Ruth |
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Jane Wyatt as Eleanor's Mother |
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Patricia Neal as Mrs. Gehrig |
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Georgia Engel as Claire Ruth |
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Michael Lerner as Dr. Canlan |
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David Ogden Stiers as Dr. Charles Mayo |
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Gail Strickland as Dorothy |
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Valerie Curtin as Kitty McHie |
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Jennifer Penney as Jennifer |
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Lainie Kazan as Sophie Tucker |
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James Luisi as Lazzeri |
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Joe E. Tata as Gomez |
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William Wellman Jr. as Dickey |
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Charles H. Gray as Kenderly |
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Frederic Downs as Papa Gehrig |
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James Greene as Kieran |
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Robert Burr as Joe Durso |
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Wynn Irwin as Barrows |
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Scott Mulhern as Bud |
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Norman Bartold as Grabiner |
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George A. Cooper as Mr. Twitchell |
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Ellen Blake as Nurse #1 |
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Jan Jorden as Fanny Barrows |
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Jonathan Sagall as Draftsman |
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Michael Yama as Purser |
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Milton Parsons as Driver |
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Victoria Carver as Nurse #2 |
| Directing | Fielder Cook | Director |
| Production | Charles W. Fries | Executive Producer |
| Production | Richard Berg | Executive Producer |
| Camera | Michel Hugo | Director of Photography |
| Writing | Blanche Hanalis | Teleplay |
| Production | David Manson | Producer |
| Writing | Joseph Durso | Book |
| Writing | Eleanor Gehrig | Book |
| Production | Thomas Fries | Associate Producer |
| Art | Herman F. Zimmerman | Art Direction |
| Editing | David Newhouse | Editor |
| Sound | Eddy Lawrence Manson | Original Music Composer |
| Production | Art Levinson | Production Manager |
| Directing | Ron Wright | Assistant Director |
| Production | Ron Wright | Unit Production Manager |
| Production | Edward J. Duffy | Location Manager |
| Production | Linda Sony Kinney | Production Coordinator |
| Sound | Tom Overton | Sound Mixer |
| Camera | Herb Pearl | Camera Operator |
| Art | Ray Molyneaux | Set Decoration |
| Directing | Ken Gilbert | Script Supervisor |
| Costume & Make-Up | Frank Novak | Costume Design |
| Costume & Make-Up | Toby Gardener | Costume Design |
| Costume & Make-Up | Frank Westmore | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Jean Austin | Hairdresser |
| Lighting | Bobby Burton | Gaffer |
| Camera | David Fay | Key Grip |
| Crew | Joseph Durso | Technical Advisor |
| Sound | John Fresco | Music Supervisor |
| Sound | John Mick | Music Editor |
| Sound | Marvin Kerner | Sound Effects Editor |
| Production | Malcolm Stuart | Executive In Charge Of Production |
