Happy Valentine’s Day, Dear Readers. I’m feeling all sentimental today. Maybe it’s because after a nine year hiatus from dating, I’m back in the saddle again.
I’ve been going out for awhile now, and although being asked to the “senior prom” has its pitfalls, it sure is fun when that telephone (or text message or email) rings.
(Or pings.)
So, in honor of St. Valentine, I hereby want to ask you all out for a date at the movies.
Romantic movies.
Sigh.
On this February 14, let us revisit some of the most terrific boy-girl moments in moviedom.
Auteur’s Note: I am well aware that I have a great many film aficionados amongst you. I love that about you guys. However, this list is strictly idiosyncratic. I picked these ten flicks out of the hundreds I could have chosen because they all make my heart skip a beat every time I see them. Believe me, if time and space allowed, I could have put up many more clips. If I’ve left out your personal favorite, please feel free to it in the Comments Section. Thank you.
Now get out the popcorn- and the handkerchiefs. Here we go.
There’s no rhyme or reason for this but Sydney Pollack’s soap opera, The Way We Were, gets me every time. Ugly duckling Jewish girl, Katie Morosky, falls for impossibly gorgeous gentile Hubbell Gardiner. Ok, maybe it’s my New Trier upbringing, but this was some love story.
Which brings me to…
Come on. You had to have a heart of stone not to love Love Story. Fabulous Ali MacGraw- likewise in love with a blonde boy- made me ok with being a brunette.
But here are two impossibly-beautiful brunettes who live out their own tragic Romeo and Juliet star-crossed romance. But in Kansas instead of Verona.
Splendor in the Grass makes me cry and long for a different ending every time I see it.
Let’s look at its Veronese forerunner, shall we?
If you are my age, this is THE version of Romeo and Juliet. Grazie, Signor Zeferelli.
As long as our passports are stamped, let’s go to where they invented l’amour.
Was there anyone more gorgeous than Catherine Deneuve in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg? What a weeper!
The French must like to cry. Regardez-vous.
I loved A Man and A Woman so much that I memorized the album. “Samba Saravah” was my favorite song that year.
But the French don’t have the romance market cornered. Every once in awhile, the Brits across the Channel come up with something truly special. Like this.
I adored Love, Actually. (Although now I can’t watch it any more because Life imitated Art way too much when Natasha Richardson died in a freak skiing accident. Poor Liam Neeson.)
Let’s move on to an oldie but a goodie.
If you aren’t familiar with I Know Where I’m Going, watch it as a Valentine’s Day treat with someone you love. Radiant Wendy Hiller is out to marry for money. But a gale- and a poor Scottish laird- stop her. It’s glorious.
But I bet you’ve all seen this one.
Four Weddings and a Funeral celebrates all kinds of love. And the eulogy scene where one man extols the virtues of his dead male partner in a poem by A. E Houseman is one of the most beautiful tributes to love I’ve even seen anywhere. I defy you not to feel his love- and loss.
Ok. I’ve run out of Kleenex. So I’m going to end on my favorite romantic movie of ALL time.
Have a sweet Valentine’s Day.
And here’s looking at you, kids.
Ellen, Mazel tov on your senior saddling, and just remember All You Need is Love. As for your theme, glad you got in “Casablanca” … to which I would add “Ninotchka” and “Annie Hall” … because we need the eggs.
Thanks, George. Nice puzzle plug and great choices. I knew I could count on you to give these classics their due. HVD❤️
I’m going to add “City Lights” by Charlie Chaplin. According to Chaplin’s autobiography, Albert Einstein attended the world premiere as Chaplin’s guest, and was moved to tears.
You got it, Doc. If it was good enough for Albert, it’s e=mc2 with me.
Bull Durham!!
Great one, Rocket! You hit this one out of the park! I too believe in Baseball. (And long slow kisses- if they are delivered by Kevin Costner.) ⚾️
I know you stated up front you had 100’s to pick from but this is our blog as well and I just wanted to put my two cents in. An Affair To Remember gets me every time. And here’s looking at you kid.
A pink champagne of a choice, Mitch. Just perfect. HVD to you and your pretty Valentine. Thanks. ❤️🍾
There are many great romantic movies, but I like my real life version better…
While visiting best friend from high school play college basketball in a city 6 hours away, big city Jewish college boy from wealthy family literally bumps into small town college Catholic girl from poor side of town as she walks out of an elevator in her dorm.
The attraction was instantaneous. Both families strongly object to relationship. The lovers date long distance for 5 years then get married.
Through all of life’s ups and downs, they’re still together after 44 years (that’s about 23 million minutes for this who are counting).
She says she loves that I make her laugh every day (which puts this at the top of the romantic comedy category). I can’t believe anyone would put up with me for this long (which qualifies for best romantic mystery category).
I hope the ending is never written.
By the way, West Side Story comes in second place!!
Very very sweet, Steve. You’re both so lucky to have lived a real life “Love Story.” Btw, the meeting between Maria and Tony at the dance at the gym was my 11th clip. “Tonight, tonight…”❤️🎼
Steve, I too have had a true love story. I married the girl next door growing up in Glencoe. This August will be 45 years and counting. We’ve known each other since we were 10 and 11 years old.💝
You guys! True real life romance. Sigh. ☺️
JACK FELDMAN says: I would have included the wondrous “Roman Holiday,” which starred two of my favorite actors- Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. And I would have mentioned the tango scene with Gabrielle Anwar and Al Pacino in “Scent of a Woman.”
Thanks, Jack. Two SUPERB choices. The whole world fell in love with Audrey Hepburn in that one. And I love that tango- “Por Una Cabeza.” Very sexy.
BERNIE KERMAN says: The best love story in film history: “High Noon.” Never once in the movie was the word “love” ever mentioned. or was a kiss ever seen. Yet the love was electric. Doesn’t get any better than that.
Yup.