The TCL Chinese Theatre Multiplex was packed on April 20, 2024, for a special screening of A Little Romance at the TCM Classic Film Festival. Before the film, Diane Lane—making her debut in the 1979 classic—joined Ben Mankiewicz, journalist and host for Turner Classic Movies (TCM), for an engaging conversation about the beloved coming-of-age romance.
Directed by George Roy Hill and starring Laurence Olivier alongside a young Diane Lane, the film follows a Paris-set love story that leads to a dreamy journey to Venice. With its Oscar-winning score by Georges Delerue, A Little Romance remains a timeless tale of young love and cinematic charm.
During the conversation, Lane reflected on her early acting journey and what led to her breakout role. Though new to film, she was already an experienced stage performer, discovered by Hill while appearing in a Public Theater production of Runaways. She went through multiple auditions before landing the role and even spent time with the director beforehand as he prepared her for the emotional demands of the film—particularly learning how to cry on cue.
Lane also spoke fondly of working alongside Olivier, describing him as a true gentleman and a towering presence in the craft. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “The rehearsing with Laurence Olivier is already enough to dine out on for the rest of your life,” while also recalling how people would often ask her, “Do you have any idea who you’re working with?”—a question that underscored the magnitude of the moment. Looking back, Lane acknowledged Olivier’s legacy, noting that he was “the one that everybody compared themselves to… the apex of the craft,” a realization that continues to resonate with her to this day.
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