The Notebook
Behind every great love is a great story.
Country
Production
Budget
$29 000 000
Box office
$115 533 700
Director
Actors
Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, Gena Rowlands, James Garner, Joan Allen, David Thornton, James Marsden, Kevin Connolly, Sam Shepard, Starletta DuPois
All actors and roles (10)
All actors and roles (10)
Scenario
Producer
Lynn Harris, Mark Johnson, Avram Butch Kaplan, Toby Emmerich
Camera operator
Composer
Aaron Zigman
Artist
Sarah Knowles
Audition
Matthew Barry, Nancy Green-Keyes
Editing
Short description
An epic love story centered around an older man who reads aloud to a woman with Alzheimer's. From a faded notebook, the old man's words bring to life the story about a couple who is separated by World War II, and is then passionately reunited, seven years later, after they have taken different paths.
What's left behind the scenes
- The film had been in development at New Line since 1995, and Tom Cruise was initially considered for the lead role. In 1999, the studio came very close to production with director Jim Sheridan and a relatively unknown Ashley Judd as the young heroine. Additionally, the roles of Ellie’s older and younger lover were offered to Robert Duvall and Matt Damon.
- Director Nick Cassavetes wanted a lead actor who wasn't too famous and wasn't a typical 'pretty boy,' and the choice fell on Ryan Gosling.
- Rachel McAdams auditioned for the role while the premiere of another film she was in was taking place. She received the script only a day before the screen tests, and nine other actresses were competing for the role.
- Actress Gena Rowlands, who played the elderly Ellie Nelson, is the mother of director Nick Cassavetes.
- Gina Rowlands, who played the elderly Ellie Nelson, is the mother of director Nick Cassavetes.
- The film had been in development at New Line since 1995, and at that time, Tom Cruise was intended to be the lead star. In 1999, the studio came very close to production with director Jim Sheridan and a then-lesser-known Ashley Judd in the role of the young protagonist. Additionally, the roles of Ellie's old and young lovers were offered to Robert Duvall and Matt Damon.
- Scenes with the main characters set seven years later were filmed first, after which the film crew went on Christmas vacation. For the filming after the break, Ryan Gosling had to shave off his beard and lose almost 10 kg of weight. Gosling and Rachel McAdams felt more comfortable playing the ‘younger versions’ of their characters, and noticeably more constrained playing them after a seven-year separation.
- The photographs of Rachel McAdams' and Ryan Gosling's characters were actually photos of Gena Rowlands with her husband John Cassavetes, with James Garner's face superimposed over Cassavetes'.
- Initially, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams didn't get along, and Gosling even wanted another actress to be cast as Allie. Eventually, director Nick Cassavetes organized a therapy session for them during breaks in filming, putting them in the same room so the actors could directly express what they disliked about each other. It helped. Gosling and McAdams resolved their grievances, and a romance even blossomed between them for a time.
- Ryan Gosling prepared for filming by settling in Charleston, South Carolina. For two months, he regularly rowed on the river and made furniture.
- Ryan Gosling prepared for the shoot by moving to Charleston, South Carolina. For two months, he regularly rowed on the river and practiced furniture making.
- The shots of Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling's characters were actually shots of Gena Rowlands with her husband John Cassavetes, with James Garner's face superimposed onto the image of Cassavetes.
- Ryan Gosling made the kitchen table shown in the film himself as part of his preparation for the shoot.
- Justin Timberlake was considered as a candidate for the role of Noah.
- The film is based on Nicholas Sparks' novel 'The Notebook' (1996), which became a bestseller in its first week of sales.
- The scenes featuring the main characters seven years later were filmed first, after which the production crew went on Christmas break. For the filming after the break, Ryan Gosling had to shave his beard and lose nearly 10 kg. Gosling and Rachel McAdams felt more relaxed playing the 'younger versions' of their characters and were noticeably more stiff when playing them after their seven-year separation.
- The scene in which Ryan Gosling's character crashes his car into the gates of Allie's summer house, played by Rachel McAdams, was not in the script; it happened by accident and was captured on film. The gates were damaged, of course, but the scene turned out magnificent.
- Filming took place in South Carolina from November 2002 to February 2003.
- The film was originally scheduled for release in the fall of 2003. However, New Line Cinema postponed the release first to spring 2004, and then to June 25 of the same year.
- Before filming began, Rachel McAdams spent some time in Charleston to get acclimated. She took ballet and etiquette lessons and worked with a linguist to master the local dialect.
- Ryan Gosling (who played Noah in his youth) wore brown contact lenses because his eyes are blue, but they needed to be brown like the eyes of James Garner (who played Noah in his older years).
- The kitchen table shown in the movie was made by Ryan Gosling himself as part of his preparation for the role.
- Rachel McAdams auditioned for the role while the premiere of another film she was starring in was taking place. She received the script only a day before the audition, and 9 other actresses were also vying for the role.
- Initially, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams did not get along, and Gosling even wanted another actress to be cast as Allie. Eventually, director Nick Cassavetes organized a therapy session for them between takes, placing them in one room so the actors could directly tell each other everything they disliked about their partner. It worked. Gosling and McAdams resolved their grievances, and for a while, a romance even blossomed between them.
- “The Notebook” is one of many projects that Steven Spielberg never got around to. Martin Campbell could also have directed the film.
- “The Notebook” is the third film adaptation of a novel by popular writer Nicholas Sparks. Previously, there were “A Walk to Remember” and “Message in a Bottle”.
- Ryan Gosling (who played the young Noah) wore brown contact lenses because his eyes are blue, and it was required that they be brown to match the eyes of James Garner (who played Noah in his older years).
- Director Nick Cassavetes needed an actor for the lead role who wasn't too well-known and wasn't a "handsome man," and he chose Ryan Gosling.
- The film had been in development at New Line since 1995, and Tom Cruise was initially considered for the lead role. In 1999, the studio came very close to production with director Jim Sheridan and a relatively unknown Ashley Judd as the young heroine. Robert Duvall and Matt Damon were also offered the roles of the older and younger lovers of Ellie.
- Before filming began, Rachel McAdams spent some time in Charleston to acclimate herself to the area. She took ballet and etiquette lessons and worked with a linguist to master the local accent.
- Justin Timberlake was considered for the role of Noah.
- The scene in which Ryan Gosling's character crashes a car into the gates of Allie's summer house, played by Rachel McAdams, was not in the script; it all happened accidentally and was filmed. The gates, of course, were damaged, but the scene turned out beautifully.
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