uthor Nicholas Sparks' best selling first novel, The Notebook, has brought tears to the eyes of readers since its publication in 1996. Now, count on needing a box of tissue at the theater with the arrival of this heartwrenching story on the big screen.   James Garner portrays Noah, an elderly man, who regularly visits Allie (Gena Rowlands), an aging woman suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and reads to her from an old notebook. He tells a story that seems vaguely familiar to her, about two teenagers who fall in love, but are separated by family and by World War II.   Though her memory has faded, his words give Allie the chance to relive her youth and an unforgettable love.   Through flashbacks, we meet Noah and Allie as vibrant young people, brought to life by Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.   "I play a bit of a wild child," says McAdams. "She's a debutante who falls in love with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks."   After the soldiers return home from the war, everything is different. Allie is engaged to a successful businessman and Noah lives alone in a 200-year-old house, which he lovingly restores.   One day, Allie reads a newspaper article about Noah's handiwork and decides to find him, so she can make a decision about her future.   Canadian actress McAdams admits it was intimidating to play Rowlands as a young woman, especially since the film is directed by Nick Cassavetes, Rowlands' son by late director/actor John Cassavetes.

actors Gena Rowlands James Garner Rachel McAdams Ryan Gosling director Nick Cassavetes locations Charleston, South Carolina outtake Nicholas Sparks, who also wrote the novels A Walk to Remember and Message in a Bottle, reportedly based the story of The Notebook, on the experiences of his own grandmother.   McAdams recalls, what helped her most in the portrayal, was a photograph of Rowlands in her twenties, given to her by Cassavetes. For inspiration, she kept the photo close by, all through the shoot.   For 23-year-old Gosling, also Canadian, the last few years have been busy, with major roles in Murder by Numbers, The United States of Leland, The Slaughter Rule and The Believer. He was recently named Male Star of Tomorrow at ShoWest, the official convention for the National Association of Theater Owners.  Cassavetes also has high praise for Gosling, telling The New York Times, "He doesn't make a move he doesn't feel. He's honest, and that's really what you want out of an actor."   Rowlands believes moviegoers will relate to the characters, telling about.com, "It's a picture that has people who love right through life, no matter what terrible things happen to them."   The Notebook reveals an epic tale of love lost and found, new beginnings and second chances. It also confirms the belief that the first time you fall in love, can change your life forever. -- Elaine Loring