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When watching the original Jurassic Park movie, I always got an impression that Ellie Sattler and Dr. Grant were an item (as in, a romantic couple).

However, re-reading Chrichton's book, it contradicted that:

"Are you divorced?" {{ asked by Tim }}

"No," Grant said. "My wife died a long time ago."

"And now you're with Dr. Sattler?"

Grant smiled in the darkness. "No. She's my student."

"You mean she's still in school ?"

"Graduate school, yes."

...

You have children?" Tim asked.

"No," Crant said.

"Are you going to marry Dr. Sattler?"

"No, she's marrying a nice doctor in Chicago sometime next year.

Was there any confirmation in the movie (dialog, script, creative team statement, deleted scenes) that they changed this from the book and made them an item?

I'm only interested in the material from the first movie, NOT the episode from #3 where they indeed showed Ellie being married to - presumably - samesuch nice doctor in Chicago and Grant visiting their house.

The relationship between Sattler and Grant went through a number of distinct phases;

• The original Crichton script was the truest to the book version. There was no sexual tension whatsoever and Ellie Sattler was purely Dr. Grant's mature student.



• 
  

  The Marno re-write (in March 1992) bulked out her character, making her more independent and increasing her role as well as adding a frisson of sexual tension between her and Grant:

  
  
  

  
  

  The copter suddenly SHAKES violently. Ellie grabs Grant's hand.
  Gennaro sits straight up, eyes squeezed shut.

  
  
  

  GRANT : Gennaro? This guy knows what he's doing, Right? Hey, Gennaro?
  I'm talking to you!

  
  
  

  Another violent shake. Grant squeezes Ellie's hand back.

  
  
  

  For a second, no one moves. Grant lets out a great sigh of relief.
  Gennaro mouths a silent prayer. The pilot stretches his fingers.

  
  
  

  Grant and Ellie self-consciously shake their hands free of each other.

  
  

  
  


• 
  

  The Koepp re-write (in December 11, 1992) made it explictly clear that she's in a relationship with Grant (as well as adding the character of Ian Malcolm to create a potential love triangle aspect):

  
  
  

  
  

  ELLIE : Anything else, you old fossil?
  GRANT : Yeah, plenty. Some of them can't walk!
  ELLIE : It frustrates me so much that I love you, that I need to strangle you right now!

  
  
  

  Ellie playfully takes Grant's hat off and gives him a tight hug. They kiss.

  
  

  
  



• Spielberg then removed this dialogue from the theatrical cut of the film (and edited out her calling him 'honey' on several occasions), presumably so that he could leave the status of their relationship ambiguous.

For what it's worth, the film's officially authorised graphic novelisation was very clear that they're an item and appears to be largely based on the Koepp version of the script:

During the night tour, Ian Malcolm explicitly asks Alan if he and Ellie are a couple.

In the script Grant never says one way or the other, but it is heavily implied that they are. However, the final version of the movie has one extra little word: "yeah".

MALCOLM: By the way, Dr. Sattler - she's not like, uh, available, is she? - -

GRANT: Why?

MALCOLM: Why? Oh, I'm sorry. Are you two, uh-

GRANT: Yeah.

MALCOLM: I wish you the best luck.

In the movie, at 9 mins 20 secs, after Grant speaks explains how dangerous velociraptors were to the fat little bastard he asks Sattler "You want to have one of those?" to which she responds "I don't want that kid but a breed of child Dr Grants could be intriguing." So it's pretty safe to assume they were a couple.

Look at their body language in the beginning. They are very close to each other and Dr. Grant puts his arm around her. They share the same trailer. When Hammond opens the champagne he says, "hey we were saving that!" Ellie wants Lex to ride with Alan to get him used to kids and she wants kids. Why should it matter to her whether he likes them unless she were planning to have them with him? Lastly, when Ian asks if Dr. Sattler is available the scene ends with him saying to Grant, "I'm sorry. You two are..." Grant nods and says yeah.