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A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story

90 %|Jan 15, 1978|Drama, TV Movie

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.

Featured Crew

Fielder Cook
Director
Charles W. Fries
Executive Producer
Richard Berg
Executive Producer
Michel Hugo
Director of Photography
Blanche Hanalis
Teleplay
David Manson
Producer
Joseph Durso
Book
Eleanor Gehrig
Book

Cast

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Blythe Danner
Eleanor Gehrig
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Edward Herrmann
Lou Gehrig
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Ramon Bieri
Babe Ruth
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Jane Wyatt
Eleanor's Mother
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Patricia Neal
Mrs. Gehrig
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Georgia Engel
Claire Ruth
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Michael Lerner
Dr. Canlan
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David Ogden Stiers
Dr. Charles Mayo
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Valerie Curtin
Kitty McHie
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Lainie Kazan
Sophie Tucker
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Frederic Downs
Papa Gehrig
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Robert Burr
Joe Durso
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Wynn Irwin
Barrows
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George A. Cooper
Mr. Twitchell
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Ellen Blake
Nurse #1
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Jan Jorden
Fanny Barrows