A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story

1h 36min

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.

Production Companies

NBC

Charles Fries Productions

Stonehenge Productions

Cast

Blythe Danner

Blythe Danner

Eleanor Gehrig
Edward Herrmann

Edward Herrmann

Lou Gehrig
Ramon Bieri

Ramon Bieri

Babe Ruth
Jane Wyatt

Jane Wyatt

Eleanor's Mother
Patricia Neal

Patricia Neal

Mrs. Gehrig
Georgia Engel

Georgia Engel

Claire Ruth
Michael Lerner

Michael Lerner

Dr. Canlan
David Ogden Stiers

David Ogden Stiers

Dr. Charles Mayo
Valerie Curtin

Valerie Curtin

Kitty McHie
Lainie Kazan

Lainie Kazan

Sophie Tucker
Frederic Downs

Frederic Downs

Papa Gehrig
Robert Burr

Robert Burr

Joe Durso
Wynn Irwin

Wynn Irwin

Barrows
George A. Cooper

George A. Cooper

Mr. Twitchell
Ellen Blake

Ellen Blake

Nurse #1
Jan Jorden

Jan Jorden

Fanny Barrows

Release date

15th Jan 1978

Status

Released

Spoken languages

English