I am 36. I saw this once when I was 25 or so, I thought it was boring as fuck. I just watched again last night and I LOVED this campy shitfest!

So bad it's good!

I love Brooke's family's comfy hippy house.

I will say that I genuinely like Shirley Knight's performance. It was a thankless role because her character is so eccentric and almost creepy, but I found her quite wonderful actually. She was nominated for the Golden Raspberry like everyone else in this film, but I disagree.

++Don Murray gave the worst performance in the entire film. Absolutely horrible. I cheered at his last scene. What a ham++

Brooke was fucking terrible. Just horrible. (See the scene where she is caught with sleeping pills. Sweet jesus) But she was certainly stunning. Especially in her last scene.

And James Spader was excellent. What a dick he played!

I am totally going to buy the book because I hear it is outstanding and nothing like the film.

by Anonymous

reply 106

January 3, 2018 9:04 PM

Loved Shirley Knight and the house too! And James Spader, of course. I watched it 30 times by the time I was in second grade.

Early 80s cable taught me a lot.

by Anonymous

reply 1

February 7, 2014 1:46 AM

"You're jealous....jealous of US !!"

by Anonymous

reply 2

February 7, 2014 1:47 AM

Such a good book.

Such a lousy movie.

But thanks for bringing it up. THAT's where I knew Bree's MIL from.

by Anonymous

reply 3

February 7, 2014 1:49 AM

Did Zeffirelli ever sample the help?

by Anonymous

reply 4

February 7, 2014 1:56 AM

What about Martin Hewitt, he was so beautiful.

by Anonymous

reply 5

February 7, 2014 1:56 AM

Knight is the best thing in the film, as usual. She actually manages to sell the "happening upon the daughter and boyfriend making love" scene pretty well...

by Anonymous

reply 6

February 7, 2014 1:57 AM

Loved that house too and the party scene. And Brooke's caterpillar brows. And Lionel and Diana.

Your eyes. YOUR EYES YOUR EYES.They tell me how much YOU CARE. Oh ho yeah.

by Anonymous

reply 7

February 7, 2014 2:00 AM

You are making me want to watch it again!I think I will!

by Anonymous

reply 8

February 7, 2014 2:03 AM

Oh shit, another thing! David rides around on his little bicycle. He and his parents clearly live in an apt in Chicago while Brooke's family live in the suburbs of Chicago. How the FUCK does this dude ride around arranging fuckyfuck with Brooke and then riding home on this dinky bike? He would have no time to go to school. A motorcycle would have made more sense

by Anonymous

reply 9

February 7, 2014 2:07 AM

Do a Blue Lagoon - Endless Love double bill OP. Be sure to wear your Calvin Klein jeans à la Brooke, commando style.

by Anonymous

reply 10

February 7, 2014 2:12 AM

I agree with R3. Excellent book, so-so movie.

by Anonymous

reply 11

February 7, 2014 2:14 AM

They are adorable on that bike

by Anonymous

reply 12

February 7, 2014 2:14 AM

Don't forget that Tom Cruise scene. That was when he was at his hottest...

by Anonymous

reply 13

February 7, 2014 2:18 AM

Brooke Shields was the most beautiful teenager at that time.

Loved the song, but will it be used in the re-make?

by Anonymous

reply 14

February 7, 2014 2:28 AM

It wasn't a very good film (seen it 20 times), but enjoyed watching Martin's naked ass.

It's currently on Netflix and Hulu plus. I'll probably watch it again this weekend.

by Anonymous

reply 15

February 7, 2014 2:36 AM

Martin Hewitt did lovely ass work.

by Anonymous

reply 16

February 7, 2014 2:36 AM

He did do some lovelyass work!

by Anonymous

reply 17

February 7, 2014 2:39 AM

I read an interview with Scott Spencer. He thought the 1981 version was a SHITSHOW. He says that the 2014 version is an even BIGGER SHITSHOW!

Sounds promising!

by Anonymous

reply 18

February 7, 2014 2:41 AM

Tom C. was a fat, doughy, carbo-loaded toad (in those shorts!); Franco Z. had to practically pinch off Brooke's toe (off camera) to get her to appropriately respond during 'the scene.' (Fact). (Loved the house = Reminds me of the house @ 'The Proposal.')

by Anonymous

reply 19

February 7, 2014 2:45 AM

I read the book....it is not much better. Very pretentious and very heterosexual.

by Anonymous

reply 20

February 7, 2014 3:11 AM

And what, pray tell, was it pretending, R20? Agreed it was "very heterosexual," but "pretentious"? About what?

by Anonymous

reply 21

February 7, 2014 3:14 AM

I read the book too. My mom wouldn't let me see rated PG or rated R movies, but she would let me read any book I wanted.

The girl who plays Jade in the remake is sort of the stepsister of Prince Harry's girlfriend

by Anonymous

reply 23

February 7, 2014 3:31 AM

Here's the original. Don't download anything. Just press the movie screen and just delete anything that pops up in the next tab

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 24

February 7, 2014 3:43 AM

Martin Hewitt was really pretty in this movie, but didn't he get fat and unattractive when he got older?

by Anonymous

reply 25

February 7, 2014 3:48 AM

I felt Shirley stealthily based her character after Teri Shields. Wasn't Teri trying to sell Brookie to the highest bidder back then?

by Anonymous

reply 26

February 7, 2014 3:56 AM

I love the bicycle

I love the book

I love Shirley Knight

I love the hippy house

I love Brook's caterpillar brows.

And I love Lionel and Diana.

What's not to love?

by Anonymous

reply 27

February 7, 2014 4:05 AM

Looking at this film, it's easy to see why Spader went on to a successful acting career and Hewitt didn't. BTW, Ian Ziering played the little brother.

by Anonymous

reply 28

February 7, 2014 4:14 AM

Such a classic. I'm so glad they've remade it. Every generation should have it's own version.

BTW--Let's hope Alex Pettyfer keeps on playing high-school boys forever. I don't know who he has by the short-hairs, but thank God he's getting another chance to be the star he can be. Charisma like that doesn't grow on trees.

by Anonymous

reply 29

February 7, 2014 4:25 AM

I stopped reading at I am 36.

by Anonymous

reply 30

February 7, 2014 8:12 AM

I watched it again. It was a creepy cheese fest

by Anonymous

reply 31

February 7, 2014 9:28 AM

R30! You cunt. That made me laugh

by Anonymous

reply 32

February 7, 2014 10:42 AM

I simply love this shitfest!

I'm gonna not watch again for at least a year now.

by Anonymous

reply 35

February 7, 2014 7:34 PM

Martin Hewitt was cute and hot. I loved that he was naked in it. It was interesting that he did direct-to-video erotic films during the 1990s.

by Anonymous

reply 36

February 7, 2014 8:06 PM

I did extra work on it. I was in the asylum scene across the way from Martin Hewitt. When they shot towards Martin, they let me stay on my bed right behind the camera. It was pretty fascinating. At one point, Zefferelli started adjusting Hewitt's crotch in his PJs. He looked up and saw me watching and gave me one of those, "Hey, what can I do?" looks. It was sweet, but I did feel a bit embarrassed for him.

by Anonymous

reply 37

February 7, 2014 8:07 PM

OMG! 37!!!!!! MORE DETAILS!!!!!!!! What does your post even mean??

Im drunk , elaborate!!!

by Anonymous

reply 38

February 7, 2014 11:32 PM

Just saw the reake, i kinda loved it, and i loved the original too.

Pettyfer was great, charismatic and handsome even with that sorry hair do.

by Anonymous

reply 39

February 15, 2014 11:44 PM

Pettyfer is handsome handsome handsome

by Anonymous

reply 40

February 15, 2014 11:52 PM

I read the book. I didn't think it was as great as some people make it out to be. I've only seen clips of the movie. That's enough for me.

David is supposed to be 17 years old but he looks at least a decade older than that.

Brooke Shields was very beautiful, but stupendously bad.

Here's some of the movie's brilliant dialogue"

"I LOVE HER! I'LL ALWAYS LOVE HER!"

"WE LOVE EACH OTHER!"

"But he loved me. He loves me! No one will ever love me as much."

"He is in LOVE with that girl!"

"I'll never stop loving you."

"I had to see you again. I haven't changed... I love you.'

"JAAAAAADE!"

"DAAAAAVID!"

by Anonymous

reply 41

February 16, 2014 12:27 AM

Loved it. Saw it when I was 17 with my 16 year old sister. We cried like babies. Martin Hewitt! Dreamy.

by Anonymous

reply 42

February 16, 2014 5:38 AM

[quote]I simply love this shitfest!

That's Academy Award nominated shitfest to you.

by Anonymous

reply 43

February 16, 2014 1:35 PM

Like "Valley of the Dolls" it's got a beautiful theme song and the film is....shit.

by Anonymous

reply 46

March 21, 2014 1:14 AM

The book features a lengthy description of a night of hot monkey sex in a hotel room. David shows up at the wake for Jade's father (it's his fault the father is dead, but that's another story); later Jade goes to his hotel room. They haven't seen each other for years; the last time they saw each other was when he set her house on fire and almost burned her entire family to death. Her father has just died. But of course, they eventually get back to fucking each other's brains out, like they did when they were insatiably horny teenagers.

The description of their sexual acrobatics isn't erotic; it's just excessive. And to make things even more unpleasant, David ferociously eats Jade out in spite of the fact that she's having a VERY heavy period. In the morning they're both "covered in dried blood. The sheets were stiff with it. There was blood on out legs, our thighs, our arms and fingers. There was blood in our hair and in the corners of our lips. Our lips themselves were caked with it." Oh...PUKE.

by Anonymous

reply 47

March 21, 2014 1:27 AM

Shirley Knight deserved an Academy Award nomination. There, I said it. She was so pretty in it too. She is my favorite part of the film. And I cannot say enough how HORRIBLE Don Murray was in this. Just BAD.

by Anonymous

reply 48

March 21, 2014 1:29 AM

It's a really good book, but both movies are terrible.

by Anonymous

reply 49

March 21, 2014 1:31 AM

Boy, Tom Cruise had such a high nasal voice back then. He seriously did work to control in by the time of Top Gun.

by Anonymous

reply 50

March 21, 2014 1:41 AM

i'm fucking amzed this is a post!!!!!!!!!

by Anonymous

reply 51

March 22, 2014 11:28 PM

I have the book now and may start to read it tomorrow.

Jade. What a fucking name.

LOVE IT.

by Anonymous

reply 52

March 23, 2014 1:04 AM

I can't remember what I did first, watch the movie or read the book.

I know I bought the movie used on amazon as a VHS tape. It looked like it had been an old rental. I stayed up late watching it and was a catatonic zombie for days. Not because it was a bad movie, it just was so disturbing to me. I have not watched it since bc of that feeling I couldn't shake.

My mother had the same reaction to Splendor in the Grass. Are they similar? Kind of?

I read the book, the book's timeline is different, yes it is graphic. Reading the book makes my heartache, but not traumatized the way the movie did. A good book when you are grieving lost love, bc you realize you don't have it THAT bad.

by Anonymous

reply 53

August 25, 2017 3:31 PM

They shot this in my hometown of Sea Cliff. The comfy hippie house was 2 blocks away from me. We used to run up to the set after school to get a glimpse of Brooke. She was super-sweet and waved to us a few times.

Hideous movie but I have a soft spot for it for obvious reasons. Plus, Martin Hewitt set the template for the type of guy I'd be attracted to later in life.

by Anonymous

reply 54

August 25, 2017 3:38 PM

I watched the movie without knowing much about the plot. I was really surprised at the turn it took when he burned the house down. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't that.

by Anonymous

reply 55

August 25, 2017 3:39 PM

First movie I ever saw a naked guy in and became obsessed with it as if it were the only movie ever to show male nudity. I was 12 at the time.

by Anonymous

reply 56

August 25, 2017 3:45 PM

I loved when Bette Midler was presenting the Best Song Award at the Academy Awards and referred to the theme song as "Endless Love, from the endless movie, Endless Love."

by Anonymous

reply 57

August 25, 2017 3:48 PM

The song was the best thing about it.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 58

August 25, 2017 4:04 PM

WHere is Sea Cliff? Didn't they live in Chicago?

by Anonymous

reply 59

August 25, 2017 5:21 PM

Liked the book a lot more!

by Anonymous

reply 60

August 25, 2017 5:25 PM

I went to school with 4 girls called Jade.

by Anonymous

reply 61

August 25, 2017 5:52 PM

I hope that I will never have to hear that fucking theme song again.

by Anonymous

reply 62

August 25, 2017 6:46 PM

Sea Cliff?

Weird, because I lived in Jamaica New York and saw them film scenes there. They changed all the street signs in our neighborhood to look like Chicago street signs.

by Anonymous

reply 63

August 25, 2017 7:33 PM

Apparently there is a Sea Cliff, L I

by Anonymous

reply 64

August 25, 2017 8:38 PM

Sea Cliff is on the north shore of Long Island, as anyone from Jamaica knows.

by Anonymous

reply 65

August 26, 2017 1:58 AM

Was Shirley Jones coming downstairs to seduce him when she walked in on he and Jade fucking?

by Anonymous

reply 66

August 26, 2017 2:08 AM

Martin Hewitt sure was pretty . . .

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 67

August 26, 2017 2:15 AM

Poor old Franco thought this shit was gonna be the "Romeo and Juliet" of the eighties. Shields and Hewitt were no Hussey and Whiting.

by Anonymous

reply 68

August 26, 2017 2:21 AM

Zeffirelli directed the film; he of the gorgeous 1968 classic "Romeo and Juliet."

(Which was produced by the grandfather of DL icon, Giada.)

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 69

August 26, 2017 2:23 AM

The book really was terrific.

by Anonymous

reply 70

August 26, 2017 2:27 AM

In the book, David eats Jade out while she's on her period, pulling bloid clots out of his mouth.

Now, that's love.

by Anonymous

reply 71

August 26, 2017 4:52 AM

The other song Diana and Lionel sang for the soundtrack is not very good. It just illustrates how good the song Endless Love is...

And 70+ posts and nobody has posted a shot of Martin's naked ass?

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 72

January 2, 2018 5:54 PM

Everyone loves Shirley Knight! She should have gotten better roles than she did.

Don Murray is hot.

Who saw the remake? Was it more faithful to the book?

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 73

January 2, 2018 6:09 PM

Exactly how hot is the lead’s ass? Description of pumping at link in r73 is tempting.

by Anonymous

reply 74

January 2, 2018 6:27 PM

that fucking songs KILLS ME.

by Anonymous

reply 75

January 2, 2018 6:44 PM

Lord, Shirley Knight was SO cute when she was young. I need to watch this movie.

by Anonymous

reply 77

January 2, 2018 7:12 PM

The book is EVERYTHING the last page is STUNNING.

by Anonymous

reply 78

January 2, 2018 7:28 PM

[quote]Martin Hewitt sure was pretty

Mmmm. I was surprised he disappeared post-Endless Love.

by Anonymous

reply 79

January 2, 2018 8:31 PM

More butt.

Unremarkable - except visions of ass in mainstream film then were fleeting and prized.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 80

January 2, 2018 8:57 PM

Here is the ass-pumping scene that Shirley Knight got to peep on.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 81

January 2, 2018 8:58 PM

There should have been dong.

by Anonymous

reply 82

January 2, 2018 9:08 PM

I've never seen either movie, did read the book a couple years ago. It's pretty good ... but found the sex-during-menstruation scene pretty revolting ... it just went on and on and on.

by Anonymous

reply 83

January 2, 2018 9:18 PM

I"ll bet you thought that was hilarious before you typed it, R84.

by Anonymous

reply 85

January 2, 2018 9:43 PM

It looks like Martin Hewitt’s career devolved into a series of Red Shoe Diaries-type sleaze.

He turns 60 next month!

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 86

January 2, 2018 9:49 PM

R61, were they named Jade, or were they just called ....Jade?

by Anonymous

reply 87

January 2, 2018 9:51 PM

The Lionel Richie/Diana Ross theme song inspired the best Puttin’ on the Hits performance EVER.

For Reagan-era televison, this was borderline crazy.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 88

January 2, 2018 9:55 PM

The book was a favourite at my high school thanks to the gross sex scenes.

by Anonymous

reply 89

January 3, 2018 12:57 AM

[quote] In the book, David eats Jade out while she's on her period, pulling bloid clots out of his mouth. Now, that's love.

That ain't shit.

by Anonymous

reply 90

January 3, 2018 1:03 AM

I just realized that there must be menstruation fetishists who were disappointed by that scene’s omission in the film.

I think Teri Shields would have okayed it.

by Anonymous

reply 91

January 3, 2018 1:04 AM

I was in an acting class where star to be that never was Martin Hewitt had studied shortly before his big break -- so got some trivia. Hewitt apparently did the young Hwood thing of staying out all night and getting drunk -- the night before his first day of shooting. So he showed up a mess and still wasted. Apparently Don Murray took me on a ride in his car and read him the riot act about he was blowing his opportunity. Which apparently was true.

The other thing that got in Hewitt's way was that he and Brooke were booked to be on the cover of PEOPLE the week the film opened -- but Teri Shields pitched a fit and insisted on Brooke alone. For all publicity actually. So Hewitt came and went even faster than Christopher Atkins did.

I once took a piss at a urinal at the Beverly Hills Hotel next to Zefferelli. I like that piece of trivia though he showed no interest in me. Milton Berle was there too, being honored for some BH crap. Alas, he was next to me at the urinal so I can't prove his legend. Still can not figure out why Berle and Zefferrelli would be at the same event but they were.

by Anonymous

reply 92

January 3, 2018 1:29 AM

I haven't seen this since it first came out on VHS. I read the book when I was like 12 --probably one of the first big "adult" books I'd ever read, but I'm sure I didn't get a lot of it. For example, I don't even remember the blood clot eating out. Blurgh.

This thread inspired me to rewatch, but it seems to have disappeared from both Hulu and Nerflix.

by Anonymous

reply 93

January 3, 2018 1:36 AM

This is one of the best threads we've had in a while. Gossip, nostalgia, literature, film and crazy.

by Anonymous

reply 94

January 3, 2018 1:38 AM

Zeffirelli probably had a hard-on for Hewitt, as he looked like the statue of David at that time. The whole movie existed so he could see Martin's ass.

Poor Brooke. She could have worked with some good directors and learned her craft. But her mom kept picking terrible projects.

Offsite Link

by Anonymous

reply 95

January 3, 2018 1:41 AM

R95, shut up, ya fuckin' cunt.

by Anonymous

reply 96

January 3, 2018 1:43 AM

"It's Brooke alone or nobody!" - also Teri Shields though I love the Kathy Griffin reference

God, my typing on R92 makes me look drunk and I am not, I swear. Excuse the misspelling of Zeff's name, it was Hewitt not "me" Don Murray took for a ride and Milton Berle was NOT at the urinal next to me so I didn't see his schlong.

One last piece of minor gossip that relates: an old boyfriend was friends with the daughter of Don Murray and Hope Lange and she apparently once told Lange (well known for being a drinker), "I know cats that have better mothers." I have used that line ever since.

by Anonymous

reply 97

January 3, 2018 1:51 AM

r92 and r97 please keep typing. Love your stories!

by Anonymous

reply 98

January 3, 2018 1:58 AM

Doesn't "Endless Love" also feature one of the rare follow-up appearances of Oscar nominee/DL semi-favorite Penelope Milford aka Ms. Paula Fleming ("Let us know when the shuttle lands") from "Heathers"?

Everyone, of course (here on DL anyway), knows that the original choice for Vi in "Coming Home" (Milford's Oscar nomination and the peak of her short E ticket ride) was "M". Who might've been good, might've been laughable as a hippie especially doing her topless dance pre-nervous breakdown. It may all be folklore anyway.

by Anonymous

reply 100

January 3, 2018 2:43 AM

(You guys are bad. Just made me order it on dvd on ebay. Brand New for $5 plus cheap shipping).

by Anonymous

reply 101

January 3, 2018 2:59 AM

Martin acts the hell out of his sex scene with Brooke...the close-up of his face when he’s climaxing is still one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen in a mainstream film.

Brooke, on the other hand, looks like someone is massaging her feet during the entire scene.

by Anonymous

reply 102

January 3, 2018 12:44 PM

[quote]Brooke, on the other hand, looks like someone is massaging her feet during the entire scene.

You don't know how close you are. In order to get the desired reaction during the scene, Franco Zeferelli positioned himself at the foot of the bed, and repeatedly pinched Brooke's big-toe.

by Anonymous

reply 103

January 3, 2018 8:01 PM

She was still a virgin at the time so small wonder. Dean Cain was still a year or two away.

by Anonymous

reply 104

January 3, 2018 8:11 PM

But R97... Cats are often very good mothers.

Maybe I should try to watch this. I love Shirley Knight. She did a movie when she was very young -- "Dark at the Top of the Stairs" - a William Inge play, and she has a brief scene in there that absolutely breaks my heart. It's one of those movie moments that's burned into my soul. Wonderful actress.

by Anonymous

reply 105

January 3, 2018 8:58 PM

At least it produced a great song

by Anonymous

reply 106

January 3, 2018 9:04 PM