Where Love Has Gone (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Founder | Joseph E. Levine Productions, Embassy Pictures, Paramount Pictures |
Key people | Edward Dmytryk (director), Joseph E. Levine (producer), John Michael Hayes (screenwriter) |
| Products | Film |
Where Love Has Gone is a 1964 American drama produced in Technicolor and Techniscope, brought to the screen by Embassy Pictures, Joseph E. Levine Productions, and Paramount Pictures. Directed by Edward Dmytryk and produced under the guidance of Joseph E. Levine, the screenplay penned by John Michael Hayes adapts Harold Robbins' 1962 novel of the same title. The film's score was composed by Walter Scharf, with Joseph MacDonald handling cinematography and costumes designed by Edith Head.
The ensemble cast features Susan Hayward, Bette Davis, Mike Connors, Joey Heatherton, Jane Greer, DeForest Kelley, Anne Seymour, and George Macready.
Plot
News headlines reveal that Danielle Miller (Joey Heatherton), aged 15, has killed Rick Lazich, who was her mother Valerie Hayden's (Susan Hayward) most recent lover. Upon hearing the news, Danielle’s father Luke Miller (Mike Connors) reflects on the sequence of events that culminated in this tragedy.
During the closing days of World War II, Army Air Forces hero Miller attends a parade in San Francisco and encounters Valerie at an art exhibition. Valerie’s mother, Mrs. Gerald Hayden (Bette Davis), offers Miller both employment and a dowry as incentives to wed Valerie. Although initially hesitant, Miller and Valerie eventually marry despite warnings from Sam Corwin (DeForest Kelley), a former suitor who predicts their relationship will not endure.
Luke achieves success as an architect but faces financial barriers imposed by Mrs. Hayden, who leverages her banking influence to block his loan requests. Consequently, he agrees to work for her company. Their daughter Dani is born, but the marriage declines due to Luke’s struggle with alcoholism and Valerie’s infidelity. The marriage ends when Luke discovers Valerie with another man; Mrs. Hayden insists on divorce. Years later, Dani finds herself competing with her mother over the same man.
In the current timeline, Dani asserts that she killed Rick while protecting Valerie. The court determines it to be justifiable homicide. Custody proceedings expose Dani’s reluctance to communicate her emotions despite interventions by investigator Marian Spicer (Jane Greer) and psychiatrist Dr. Jennings (Anne Seymour). Mrs. Hayden petitions for custody while Valerie accuses Dani of attempting to kill her; she maintains Rick died defending her. Subsequently, Valerie takes her own life, and Luke endeavors to support Dani in rebuilding her life.
Cast
- Susan Hayward as Valerie Hayden Miller
- Bette Davis as Mrs. Gerald Hayden
- Mike Connors as Maj. Luke Miller (credited as Michael Connors)
- Joey Heatherton as Danielle Valerie Miller
- Jane Greer as Marian Spicer
- DeForest Kelley as Sam Corwin
- George Macready as Gordon Harris
- Anne Seymour as Dr. Sally Jennings
- Willis Bouchey as Judge Murphy
- Walter Reed as George Babson
- Ann Doran as Mrs. Geraghty
- Bartlett Robinson as Mr. John Coleman
- Whit Bissell as Prof. Bell
- Anthony Caruso as Rafael
Critical response
Although both Robbins and the studio denied any connection, some media outlets such as Newsweek observed similarities between the film’s narrative and the 1958 real-life incident involving Cheryl Crane, who fatally stabbed Lana Turner’s boyfriend claiming self-defense. Newsweek characterized the story as a "typical Harold Robbins pastiche," combining elements of sensationalism, romance, and eroticism.
The Saturday Review criticized the screenplay for rendering dramatic dialogue—particularly lines delivered by Susan Hayward—as resembling captions one might find in The New Yorker.
Nominations
The title track, "Where Love Has Gone," composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, earned nominations for Best Song at both the Academy Award and Golden Globe ceremonies. Jack Jones featured this piece on his album, which shares the same title.