Amore e odio

This short movie (74 min. cut down to 70 for the VHS release)has some very attractive performers and a plot with great possibilities. However, there was very little actual development of the story line because of the extreme time limits placed on the production. Ryan O'Neal plays a preppy suitor for the hand of the lovely but wafer-thin model, Lesley Ann Warren. Lesley becomes distracted by the forceful suitor played by Peter Haskell, who is also insanely jealous and beats Ryan to a near-pulp when he parts ways with Lesley Ann. This display of insanity puts Haskell on the loser's block but he vows revenge and stalks the now-reconciled young couple who have married and sought safety across the country. The resolution of this problem creates a very interesting and unusual ending of the story. Too bad the "powers that be" have chosen not to release this on DVD so a new generation can enjoy this dated but absorbing drama with the edited footage restored.

Beautiful model in New York has to decide between two suitors; unfortunately, the one she chooses turns out to be a jealous psychotic, sending her back into the arms of the first boyfriend, whom she marries. After the newlyweds move to California, the loser--jilted and delusional--closes in on their lives. Unpleasant TV-made stalker-drama from producer Aaron Spelling was ahead of its time in terms of subject matter, though the story is creepy and pointless. Lesley Ann Warren works herself into a real tizzy worrying that new hubby Ryan O'Neal won't be able to protect them from crazy Peter Haskell, though Ryan has apparently been working out at the gym behind her back (resulting in an evening street brawl which fails to raise any concern from the neighbors). The finale is directed for melodramatic chills, rendering the potentially gripping plot dynamics moot. One can easily see why up-and-coming star O'Neal signed onto this project: he gets to be the sensitive good guy while also playing macho and protecting his helpless wife from the scary villain. His performance isn't bad--and Haskell is careful not to overdo the wild-eyed bit--yet the picture takes mere surface-swipes at its own possibilities. It was designed to be a paranoia thriller for soap opera fans, and as such is callow and disposable.

This is one of those great "TV Movies of the Week" that were so popular from the late 60's to early 70's. Many of these were actually very good and entertaining. This one has Lesley Ann Warren playing a fashion model who has a new boyfriend, Ryan O'Neal. Trouble is her ex-boyfriend Peter Haskell is a psycho who will stop at nothing to break them up. Seems he just can't let go and move on with his life. Lesley even moves across the country to get away from this jerk. Lesley's mother makes the stupidest mistake on earth by telling this moron that Lesley's moved to "California". Well, the old bag thinks California is a big state so he will never find her. WRONG! He immediately tracks her down and her new beau Ryan and makes them both pay. Kind of silly at the time, this was 1971, a good 15 years or so before stalking became a real problem for many celebs. This TV flick is actually kind of ahead of it's time. Acting is good, Peter Haskell makes a very good villian, Lesley Ann Warren has always been underrated. Unfortunately, they don't make 'em like this anymore. No blood gushing, no four letter words every ten seconds but still fun to watch.

Since it's been 35 years since I saw this quickie TV flick, my memory is limited to a few basic plot points--model pretty Lesley Ann Warren gets stalked by wacky Peter Haskill and defended by boyfriend Ryan O'Neal. I actually remember one line of dialogue from Love Hate Love, something about Warren having a "yummy body."

Something to tickle the mind of a 14 year old.

The two things that stand out about the movie are the pure watch-ability of Warren, who in her younger days had an intense vulnerability that, matched with her shortness-of-breath-inducing beauty, would make a movie of her reading the dictionary captivating. Also, even though LHL was one of episodes of the usually putrid ABC Movie(s) of the Week, it was a surprisingly topical and suspenseful time-waster.

Yes, for a 14 year old.

Those ABC Movie's were very well done and this movie stands out as one of their best. It had a good cast with a plot not done so much back then and way before "Fatal Attraction" or the other fatal movies that followed were made. I agree with the last reviewer and love the fact that this movie didn't rely on too much violence, language or sex to make its point.

I wish I knew who did the music for this movie, that theme was really catchy and jazzy, sort of like the sound of Burt Bacharach (who did the ABC Movie of the Week theme, better known and named "Nikki").

I'd love to see some of these ABC movies released on video, they're well worth having in your collection!