A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story (1978)

A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story (1978)

All the adventure a man can live, he lives. 1978-01-15 United States of America 96 Min. PG-13
9 1 votes
Drama, TV Movie

Overview

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.

Cast

Blythe Danner is Eleanor Gehrig
Eleanor Gehrig
Edward Herrmann is Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Gerald S. O'Loughlin is Joe McCarthy
Joe McCarthy
Ramon Bieri is Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
Jane Wyatt is Eleanor's Mother
Eleanor's Mother
Patricia Neal is Mrs. Gehrig
Mrs. Gehrig
Georgia Engel is Claire Ruth
Claire Ruth
Michael Lerner is Dr. Canlan
Dr. Canlan
David Ogden Stiers is Dr. Charles Mayo
Dr. Charles Mayo
Gail Strickland is Dorothy
Dorothy
Valerie Curtin is Kitty McHie
Kitty McHie
Jennifer Penney is Jennifer
Jennifer
Lainie Kazan is Sophie Tucker
Sophie Tucker
James Luisi is Lazzeri
Lazzeri
Joe E. Tata is Gomez
Gomez
Charles H. Gray is Kenderly
Kenderly
Frederic Downs is Papa Gehrig
Papa Gehrig
James Greene is Kieran
Kieran
Robert Burr is Joe Durso
Joe Durso
Wynn Irwin is Barrows
Barrows
Norman Bartold is Grabiner
Grabiner
George A. Cooper is Mr. Twitchell
Mr. Twitchell
Ellen Blake is Nurse #1
Nurse #1
Jan Jorden is Fanny Barrows
Fanny Barrows
Jonathan Sagall is Draftsman
Draftsman
Michael Yama is Purser
Purser
Victoria Carver is Nurse #2
Nurse #2