valjeang11-70-170253 I just rented this disc from Netflix ....I mention that just to assure readers it has been released on DVD and is available despite other reviews here ..... and it was a pleasure. Not all films survive the test of time. Both Leads are believable and the scenery is the third star of the film.

wes-connors Awkwardly asthmatic Timothy Bottoms (as Walter Elbertson) goes to Spain on summer vacation. Wheezing on a bike, Mr. Bottoms leaves the trails and hops on a bus tour. He sits down next to attractive older Maggie Smith (as Lila Fisher). Ms. Smith squishes his "Mounds" bar and Bottoms squirts her with some mysterious liquid. Despite an age difference, the pair are kindred spirits, with much in common below the surface. And, as both are sex-starved, a "May/December" romance eventually develops.The lovers are blissful - then, a tragic secret is revealed...With director Alan J. Pakula and his co-stars at career peaks, it's surprising to find "Love and Pain (and the whole damn thing)" was not at least a moderate success during its hesitant 1972 release. It's features good performances and pretty Spanish scenery. Apparently, the film was recognized for its relative fault; compared to the output produced by the notable filmmakers, it was uncommonly dull. It is also intentionally interjected with comedy, with Smith sometimes appearing clumsy when she should be staid.****** Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing (4/19/73) Alan J. Pakula ~ Maggie Smith, Timothy Bottoms, Jaime de Mora, Charles Baxter

Jay Harris This 1973 film directed by Alan J Pakula & written by Alvin Sargent (two top names in film) has finally been released to DVD.I could have waited another 36 years to see it.It was made in Spain & the cinematography & settings are excellent, This is the only reason the rating is this high.The script is atrociously bad, 16 minutes into the film it is telegraphed that Maggie Smith has a deadly illness.SPOILERS AHEAD.We first meet Timothy Bottoms (he was 22 at the time) as an aimless college student about to go off & find himself in Spain. Of course they meet,Maggie has a bad first impression (thts a cliché isn't it),They fall in love & shortly after fall in bed with each other (another cliché). They are two of many clichés,including a tiny trailer that leaks in a' downpour.I do not like telling spoilers BUT the script is so bad,it is my duty to tell.The acting by both Maggie & Timothy is first class.It is a shame they are in a third class film. The film is a very long 110 minutes, The rest of cast are either very minor or 2 cameos by two Spanish stars.Again I say beautiful sets & scenery with good acting by the 2 stars.Ratings: ** (out of 4) 63 Points (out of 100) IMDb 5 (out of 10)

badpuppy2 After viewing Love and Pain nearly thirty years after it's initial release, I felt that this film had certainly passed the test of time. This sometimes overlooked film is an excellent vehicle for Maggie Smith in a dramatic role; even more believable than her classic, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Initially the film appears to be a very clever, dry comedy, accented by Maggie Smith's prim and proper British morals pitted against Timothy Bottom's portrayal of a rich, but socially awkward American student. From the hysterically funny camping-trailer scene to the bitter-sweet twist at the end, Love and Pain is a timeless treasure worthy of a place on your video shelf!