Love Story. Francis Lai
Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O'Neal) comes from an extremely well off and old money New England family, the Barrett name which holds much gravitas and which is plastered especially all over Harvard where Oliver is attending. He has an extremely stiff relationship with his parents, especially his father, Oliver Barrett III (Ray Milland), who loves his son in the old school way. Jenny Cavilleri (Ali MacGraw), a music student at Radcliffe, comes from a working class. When Oliver and Jenny meet, there are immediate fireworks, but they both quickly come to the realization that they are in love with each other. They have many obstacles to overcome in having a committed relationship, outwardly his father's disapproval of someone like her not being Barrett material being arguably the the biggest.
Francis Lai believed that the piano is what gives color and emotion to their story, their inspiring love, and her tragic demise. He also understood that is was also necessary to give the film a contemporaneous 1970s sound so as to connect to the modern audience. Lastly he realized that it was important to contrast the musical sensibilities, which existed between Oliver (the rock vibe of the Beatles) and Jenny (the note rich melodies of Mozart). In “Theme From Love Story – Finale” we now bear tearful witness for the first time to a sublime full statement in all its sumptuous glory. This is one of the most emotional and stirring endings in film score art.