"Bittersweet Love" is a 1976 American color romantic drama film. It was directed by David Miller and written by Adrian Morrall and D.A. Kellogg. The film stars Lana Turner, Robert Lansing, Celeste Holm, Robert Alda, Scott Hylands, and Meredith Baxter-Birney. It was made using Panavision technology.
Plot
Michael Lewis and Patricia Peterson meet in an unusual way. While on a date with another woman, Michael tries to get his date's car keys from a fountain. When his date leaves him, he meets Patricia, and they soon fall in love. After learning Patricia is pregnant, they decide to marry and have a small ceremony in Canada, where Michael's family lives.
Patricia's parents, Ben and Claire, have never met Michael and are out of the country during the wedding. They meet Michael after returning from their trip. While looking at wedding photos, Claire is surprised to realize she once met Michael's father at a USO dance years ago. They had a one-night relationship that resulted in Patricia's birth, making Michael and Patricia half-siblings. Patricia is already pregnant with their child.
Distressed by this discovery, Patricia visits her doctor to ask about ending the pregnancy. The doctor explains that if the baby's weight is still low, the pregnancy might be ended due to Patricia's situation. Patricia decides not to end the pregnancy but feels uncertain about her relationship with Michael. The couple stays isolated from friends and family during the rest of the pregnancy.
Patricia's mother urges her to consider ending the pregnancy or giving the baby up for adoption. Patricia refuses, saying she does not want more family secrets. Michael begins researching the history of family relationships and their effects on people.
When Patricia goes into labor, Michael takes her to the hospital. She gives birth to a healthy baby girl named Amy. When Amy is six weeks old, Michael tries to celebrate by cooking dinner for them. The evening becomes tense when Patricia becomes upset during a kiss. The couple separates, with Michael moving out and Patricia keeping Amy. As Patricia holds her daughter, she says, "In the middle of the night, I think about how it would have been never to know the truth. I imagine a time before the truth and find peace. But the peace ends, and I wake to who and what we are. Brother and sister. Strangers."