the mercy of fate

 

Ryan O'Neal's passing, coming through in news last Friday evening:

one of the movies he was in that commenters are mentioning a lot is

Paper Moon

-------------------------------- it's currently available to watch free on Amazon Prime.

Love Story was a cultural phenomenon when I was in sixth grade.  I didn't see it, but you didn't have to see it to know all about it!  The music in it was played - I don't know, on the radio?  Or in clips on TV?

Even if you didn't see it, you knew that Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw were the stars of it, that they fall in love even though they are from different backgrounds, and that the girl dies of an incurable disease.

In Season 4 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973 - 1974) Mary describes to her friend Rhoda how she met this nice guy in the grocery store and they went outside and made angels in the snow - "You know, they did it in Love Story!" Mary says.

And the famous quote - Jenny says it to Oliver, and later on in the film, Oliver uses the line on his dad:  "Love means never having to say you're sorry."

Reader Comments under the New York Times O'Neal obit.

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Andrew

Netherlands

Two of my most favorite movies ever starred Ryan O'Neal:  Paper Moon and What's Up Doc.

John Ehmann

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What's up Doc is a Cary Grant-like Comedy.  Tough to play that role and O'Neal did a great job.  Paper Moon was awesome, just the fact that Bogdanovich shot it in Black and White and had a real life Father and Daughter play the roles only made it better.  Love Story and Ali comes off like a TV Movie today, but Ali made it worth watching.  All in All he had a Good Life, RIP!!

JR

Providence, Rhode Island

Mr. O'Neal's somewhat limited dramatic range served him well in "Barry Lyndon," in which he played a hapless man at the mercy of fate.  

The film's stature with critics and audiences has grown over the years, thanks in part to recognition of its brilliant production design and direction but also owing in no small part to Mr. O'Neal's note-perfect performance as a lost soul who can't find his place in the world.  

Time for another re-watch, I think, in his honor.

Martin Amada

Jalisco, Mexico

Fully agree.  Arguably Stanley Kubrick's finest film, inarguably Ryan O'Neal's best.

Paro

Brooklyn

Living in a country where there is no snow, after seeing "Love Story", I couldn't wait to come to the US to frolic in the snow!!

Maureen

Vancouver, Canada

Godspeed to him.  Despite some of his personal demons, I really enjoyed him onscreen - "Love Story", "What's up Doc", "Paper Moon".  He was a gifted actor who I don't think received the accolades he deserved.  R.I.P.

mikekev56

Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania

Paper Moon was a terrific movie.  I also enjoyed him as Temperance Brennan's father on Bones.  R.I.P.

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Tatum O'Neal, Ryan O'Neal in Paper Moon    1973

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