Love Story stars Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal say they still have ‘chemistry’ 50 years after the film

Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal say they still have ‘chemistry’ a full five decades after the release of their movie Love Story.

The stars of the iconic 1970 romance reunited for the film’s Golden Anniversary for a chat with Town & Country magazine.

Talking about the enduring connection forged by the movie, O’Neal, 79, joked: ‘It’s been a fast 50. I don’t have those relationships with my wives!’

The heart-wrenching film dives into the unlikely romance between O’Neal’s preppy Oliver and MacGraw’s free-spirited Jenny, who meet while he is a student at Harvard and she studies at the sister school, Radcliffe College.

After a tumultuous relationship leads to marriage, the film eventually ends in tragedy when Ali’s character dies of an unnamed illness.

Love Story was a bona fide hit, raking in an impressive $130million worldwide as well as earning seven Oscar nominations.

After MacGraw’s initial casting, the filmmakers knew they had to find the perfect match.

Hoping to transition for TV to film, a young O’Neal knew he had to set himself apart from the 1000 other potential Olivers wrangled in a casting call.

During his audition the Paper Moon actor gave it his all, sharing a passionate kiss with his future on-screen love.

‘The chemistry has managed to sustain itself for 50 years,’ explained O’Neal, although it’s said MacGraw put in just as much effort during other actor’s screen tests, according to T&C.

And onscreen they were electric, rocketing the picture to legendary status.

‘By the [day after the release], there were lines around the block all over the country, and then the world,’ said MacGraw. ‘It was just stupefying. Totally insane.’

Though it’s been 50 years since the film came out, Harvard still embraces the story by screening it for freshman yearly.

‘It’s a little bit like Rocky Horror,’ MacGraw dished ‘where they scream, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry!” at the screen.’

Love Story is available to premium Hulu subscribers and Amazon Prime users. It can also be rented via YouTube or iTunes.