LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDID THING
May 31 '01
The Bottom Line I would recommend these pictures to those who have a romantic heart and like to lose themselves in a good love story.
Let's face it. We each have our own favorite romantic pictures. Some will make us cry while others will fill us with joy and there are those that will make us sigh and say, "Aw, how cute". Either way, Love Is A Many Splendid Thing.
I know that many might disagree with my list of favorites and some will even say, "That's a love story?", but the ten I have listed below are only a part of my list of favorites.
If I were to list them all, I'd be writing forever. Hence, to avoid eye strain on behalf of my readers, I chose a few from some popular categories: cutsey, joy filled love, and the box-of-tissue kind of story.
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I hope you will enjoy my compilation (alphabetically listed).
1. The African Queen
Starring Humphrey Bogart (Charlie Allnut) and Katherine Hepburn (Rose Sayer)
Directed by John Houston
Rose Sayer, a Missionary, has been ordered to leave her post in Africa during World War I due to a predicted take-over by the Germans. Her transportation to the mainland is an old run down bucket of bolts called The African Queen whose captain, Charlie Allnut, is a gin-loving, take-it-or-leave-it kind of man.
Their journey begins with Rose and Charlie on complete opposite ends of social graces: Rose is all grace and elegance and Charlie is a hard drinking, opinionated sea loving man.
As The African Queen begins to break down partly because of age and partly because of attacks by the German soldiers, Rose and Charlie begin to depend on each other. Rose has become willing to help Charlie make necessary repairs to his beloved "Queen" and Charlie begins to see Rose's vulnerability and softens to her plight. She begins to see that beneath all the gruff lies a man with a lonely, gentle heart.
Together they begin to realize that it is up to them to delay the invasion of the German Army. And what better way than to use the African Queen?
The picture brings together two of the finest actors in history for the making of a picture that shows that love knows no bounds.
2. The American President
Starring Michael Douglas (President Andrew Shepherd) and Annette Bening (Sydney Ellen Wade)
Directed by Rob Reiner
President Shepherd is a widower living in the White House with his pre-teenage daughter. As his campaign for re-election begins, he encounters Sydney Wade during a meeting and is immediately swept off his feet. He is now posed with a problem. To date or not to date! That is the question.
Choosing to date this beautiful young lobbyist, President Shepherd is confronted with outcries from his opposition declaring his relationship immoral for many reasons: it is unbecoming for the President of The United States to have an affair, his young daughter lives under the same roof where the affair takes place, the woman in question is a lobbyist and a former flag-burner.
Can President Shepherd overcome these obstacles and win the election while maintaining an unruffled relationship?
Ya gotta see it!
3. The Bridges Of Madison County
Starring Clint Eastwood (Robert Kincaid) and Meryl Street (Francesca Johnson)
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Robert Kincaid is a world renowned photographer for National Geographic. His travels bring him to Madison County to photograph its many old wooden bridges. In order to find the locations of the most interesting ones, he elicits the assistance of Francesca Johnson who is beginning to feel the affects of age and loneliness creeping up on her.
With her family out of town for a few days, she agrees to accompany Robert. Little did they know that the four days they spend together would turn their personal lives upside-down. Yet it did.
This marvelous acting brings you right into the heart of the most emotional-filled romance I've seen in years but the kicker of this movie is the last half hour.
Kleenex, anyone?
4. Ever After
Starring Drew Barrymore (Danielle) and Dougray Scott (Prince Henry) AND our beloved Angelica Houston (Rodmilla / Danielle's stepmother)
Directed by Andy Tennant
This is one of those "cutsey" type love stories. Love stories? Cinderella? Yes, Ever After is a love story. It is a twist on Disney's Cinderella but more with a human aspect.
Danielle and Prince Henry meet under unusual circumstances. Both are infatuated with each other and Prince Henry is determined to get to know his beautiful and mysterious Danielle. Danielle, while in love with Prince Henry feels the relationship is doomed when it become threatened by her stepmother, Rodmilla.
Can a tomboy orphan win the heart of her rebellious Prince?
While this is not your classic love story, it is a cute version of Cinderella and enjoyable to watch when you need to lift your spirits on a dull rainy day - especially when you're in the mood to escape the real world for a fantasy one.
5. Ladyhawke
Starring Michelle Pfeiffer (Isabeau) and Rutger Hauer (Navearre)and our ever-lovable Matthew Broderick (Mouse)
Directed by Richard Donner
While this love story seems to be no more than a fantasy set in motion, it is actually based on the 13th century legend of two people in love who have been cursed by the jealous Bishop of Aquila (John Wood).
The curse changes Isabau into a hawk by day and Navearre a wolf by night, thereby keeping the two lovers forever apart. That is until Isabeau meets and befriends the Mouse, an escaped pickpocket whose help she enlists to try and break the curse and reunite her with her only true love.
Ladyhawke is an enchanting, wonderful tale that can melt the hardest of hearts and put a lump in your throat.
This picture is most beautifully done.
6. Merlin
Starring Sam Neill (Merlin) and Isabella Rossellini ( Nimue)
Directed by Steve Barron
Merlin is another legend, sort of. There are many accounts of the existence of Merlin during the life of King Arthur. How much is fact and how much is fiction? We many never really know, but the picture, Merlin, is more than just the story of a magician, it is a story of love.
As a teen, Merlin meets Nimue who immediately captures his heart. It is because of this love that he is forced to use the magical powers with which he was born and has tried hard to dispel.
Mab, the evil Queen imprisons Nimue and therefore makes Merlin's life one of mystery, magic and loneliness.
Can Merlin overcome the evil queen and save his lovely Nimue or will they forever remain apart?
While this movie may not be a "tissue-box" epic, it is one that can be completely enjoyed, especially because of the special effects and awesome acting.
7. Pretty Woman
Starring Julia Roberts (Vivian) and Richard Gere (Edward)
Directed by Garry Marshall
I guess this is a favorite of most people. It's what you might call a modern day "Cinderella". Poor girl meets rich boy type of picture, yet, Pretty Woman works.
Vivian grew up believing she was and never would be good enough for any man to love or take seriously. Edward, while being a self-confident business man, lacked the finesse needed to keep a relationship more than just a few months.
After hiring Vivian to be his escort for a week, he sees in her what was lacking in himself (honesty and integrity). She finds the comfort and understanding in him that helps her overcome her own inferiority.
While Vivian is falling in love with Edward, he is doing his best to remain aloof.
Can this modern day Cinderella and her prince make their relationship work? Or will they be left with nothing more than a weeks worth of memories?
8. The Purple Hearts
Starring Cheryl Ladd (Debora Soloman, RN) and Ken Wahl (Don Jardian, MD)
Directed by Sidney Furie
This picture, made in 1984, revolves around the war in Viet Nam. A doctor (Don Jardian) stationed in Viet Nam finds himself in bad need of certain equipment. He is told that there is one person who can find anything he needs. He is told that this nurse, Deborah Soloman, has the knack of finding the impossible.
After meeting her, he falls in love and is willing to risk it all if they can be together.
It is obvious that the war must separate them, but it is how this is done that makes you reach for the tissue box more often than you'd expect.
This picture is filled with more ups and downs and fast turns than a roller coaster.
As for love stories, I would say this might, just might, be my favorite.
9. Titanic
Starring Leoardio DiCaprio (Jack) and Kate Winslet (Rose)
Directed by James Cameron
There are many stories about the lives of those on that fated journey. While some are done with more of a documentary in mind with the "added spice of romance", this version is done as a romantic tale "added with reality".
This film is not your typical "I saw the movie" type of picture. It is done more of a, "I relived your memory" type of saga.
You are taken on this journey of two love struck young people as seen through the eyes and mind of Rose, who lived to tell her tale - one of love, adventure, horror and sadness.
It is a tale that, while you relive the reality, you find yourself asking, just how much truth could be in HER story?
and finally, NUMBER 10 - bet you never thought you'd get this far, HUH?
10. While You Were Sleeping
Starring Sandra Bullock (Lucy) and Bill Pullman (Jack)
Directed by John Turtletaub
Sometimes fate must take hold of our lives like a speeding train. Sometimes that's the only way we can really find what we're looking for.
Speaking of trains, that's how Lucy found the love of her life.
Her days revolved around one passenger. She never knew his name, they never spoke, but her world lit up every time she saw him, and that was every day when he would approach her token booth to purchase that needed little disk for his transportation.
To her horror one day, she saw him get mugged and pushed into the path of an oncoming train just seconds before it pulled into the station.
For Lucy, there was no second thought. She bounded from her toll booth, jumped on the tracks and pulled her beloved stranger to safety.
Their fate was so sealed.
Or was it? Lucy's biggest problem was that now, her handsome stranger was in a deep coma.
This is when Lucy's fate took a turn that she never expected.
This is what makes this picture one of Sandra Bullock's best.
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Okay, so there you have!
These are 10 of my favorites. While others like An Affair to Remember and It Happened One Night are true classics, the above represent our more modern films.
Who knows! Maybe one day, many years from now, people will look at these and recall them as being classics.
For now, they are just great movies to watch!
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Member: Margaret Brennan
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