A Little Romance (1979)

Not every actor gets to make their first film with one of the world’s greatest actors. Forty-five years ago, Diane Lane was lucky enough to do just that in this charming romantic comedy. The film features Lord Laurence Olivier as a con artist who helps (and sometimes hinders) Lane in her first great romance with a young French boy (Thelonious Bernard). The trio embark on a madcap trip to Venice before her mother (Sally Kellerman) can send her back to the states. Lane sparkled against the backdrop of locations in Paris, Verona and Venice. She landed on the cover of Time at the age of 14, heralding the first of many impressive big-screen performances and won praise from Olivier, who called her “the next Gene Kelly.” 

d. George Roy Hill, 110m, DCP