For Valentines Day: My Ten Favorite Romance Movies: Love Is In The Air!Feb 05 '06 (Updated Feb 08 '06) Write an essay on this topic.
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Ah, Romance is in the air. Even though I do know Valentines day is a holiday embraced by the card companies and other manufacturers of items that can be sold as gifts to those with any money left over after Christmas and Chanukah… I still can’t help but get a warm tingling feeling about my true love even after all these years. And, I do love a good romantic movie every so often, especially now with Cupid’s visit just around the corner. So, with no further ado, I present my favorite love stories that have made it to the silver screen. I guess I’ll start with the oldies and go from there. One Casablanca What can be said about Casablanca that hasn’t been said a million times before...This is a love story that is all about bravery and sacrifice. Humphrey Bogart is Rick Blaine, who has seen his share of the brutality of war and has had his heart broken by Ilsa, (Ingrid Bergman), years before. He now is the owner of a nightclub in Casablanca where many refugees end up hoping to find a way out of war torn Europe…When Ilsa shows up with her new husband, Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a freedom fighter, wanted by the Gestapo, she asks for Ricks help in getting Victor out of Europe before the Nazi’s can get a hold of him…Rick is torn by his emotions especially when he and Ilsa have a reconciliation of sorts…The end is classic and demonstrates what one person will sacrifice for his true love…“we will always have Paris” they say to one another after their brief reunion, and that is all Rick will have to be satisfied with in the future when he makes the ultimate sacrifice, memories. Two Somewhere In Time This story is also about obsession and blind trust in the unknown. When Richard Collier, (Christopher Reeve), a playwright, meets an older women, Elisse McKenna, (Jane Seymour), who seems familiar to him, she mysteriously hands him a watch and says something to him about their past. He doesn’t understand at the time but a few years later he sees a photograph of her on the wall of a Grand Hotel while he is there visiting. He inquires about her and finds out she was a famous actress in the early 1900’s who passed away in at an early age. He becomes obsessed with her and falls in love, in love with a dead woman!! He then decides he was going to go back in time to meet her by self hypnosis, after he learns about time travel by a friend of his.. After much experimenting he succeeds and love triumphs when they actually do meet in the past…The twists and turns of this romance and the inevitable ending will leave you in tears. Or least it does that to me. Three Love Is A Many Splendid thing Another movie that moves me is this one whenever I see it or hear the theme song. This film is about prejudice and overcoming that obstacle regardless of the consequences. Filmed in Hong Kong, Jennifer Jones plays the part of a Eurasian doctor, Han Suyin, a widow, who meets and falls in love with an American war correspondent, Mark Elliot, (William Holden). He’s in China during one of its many upheavals. He is married but his wife in America refuses to divorce him. Her family disapproves of the relationship for that reason and the fact that he is Caucasian doesn’t help matters any. They go against everyone’s wishes and have a lovely affair in this exotic locale but, there is that war going on somewhere in that vast country, and, when Holden goes off to report about it, well, the ending, with that music playing, as she stands on the hillside all alone, where they picnicked and made love, is as heart wrenching as any scene could be. When a butterfly flutters by her and rests on her shoulder, she feels his presence and the movie ends on that uplifting note, his spirit is still with her. Four A Farewell To Arms Based on the famous Hemingway novel this is another sad but so touching movie, a story of love and sorrow. Rock Hudson and Jennifer Jones star in this one as another couple who can not seem to find a happy ending. Hudson is an American who, for some reason, is in the Italian army during WWI. He meets Jennifer Jones, a nurse with the Red Cross. Love is in the air for them and they have a passionate affair which culminates in an unwanted pregnancy. But he has to go off to war so they separate. She goes off by herself to have this baby thinking he is long gone…She has settled in Switzerland where he finds her after he deserts the army. Their love is rekindled, well, it never stopped, but now that they are together. Their time together again is short but sweet before the baby is ready to makes it’s appearance. Tragedy strikes in the worst way imaginable but he goes on with his life though he never forgets this love affair. Five Dr Zhivago This movie is huge in scope as it tells the tale of Russia, divided by war before and after the Revolution as well as while the war was raging. The story is seen through it’s main character Dr Zhivago, (Omar Sharif), the tremendous hardships he goes through and the love he has for Lara, (Julie Christie)..Though married to another, woman, Geraldine Page, his love for Lara, never waivers ..Meanwhile Lara’s story is tragic as well and her life is as tumultuous as his...Though they suffer untold horrors and are separated, their love remains. The sights and scenes of this movie are epic in proportions and as big as the history and the country it portrays.. The ravages of war , the, revolution in the streets, the bitter freezing cold Russian winters as well as the huge cast of characters make this an event and more than just a movie…But, this is a love story as epic in proportions as the country and one that still sends shivers up my spine…Is it the cold? Or the story.. Both I think! Six African Queen I wasn’t sure if I was going to include this one but after watching it the other night I decided that this was a truly great love story and one of unusual character. Humphrey Bogart plays the part of a hard hitting, heavy drinking man, Mr. Allnut, captain of a boat that travels the river waters in Africa during a period of time before WWI.. He delivers mail and supplies to the missionaries living there… While making his delivery to a brother and sister living isolated from society and news of any sort, there is an attack and the brother is killed. He then takes the prim sister, Rose, (Katherine Hepburn), down river in hopes of getting her to safety and away from the Germans…Along the way a strange romance develops when she comes up with a plan to turn the tide on the attackers. This journey downriver is as amusing as it is serious, especially when she throws all his booze in the water one night after he gets a bit boisterous and obnoxious. This adventure/ romance story is truly a movie worth watching but keep the mosquito spray handy. Now on to more recent movies: Seven Everafter “Once Upon A Time” there was poor Cinderella waiting for her Prince Charming to take her away from the drudgery that was imposed upon her by her wicked stepsisters and stepmother..We all know the story but, in this dazzling new version, Drew Barrymore, a modern day, (modern for the 16th century that is), woman has brought new life to this old classic tale. When she stands up against her stepmother, (Angela Huston), and stepsisters, this newly independent Cinderella, shows what the power of the heart can do when the crown Prince of France enters her life..This is an enchanting love story set in the most beautiful region of France and will captivate all who watch the story unfold. The twist in the fairy Godmother is also a hoot to see. But don’t forget to watch the scenic backdrop and you too will be enchanted by this incredibly beautiful countryside as well as the tale of love. Eight French Kiss What happens when a young woman, Kate, (Meg Ryan), is told by her fiancé Charlie, (Timothy Hutton), that their engagement is over when he meets a new woman while he is in Paris on business? Well, she decides to fly over there herself even though she is deadly afraid of flying. Will she find solace in the scoundrel, Luc, (Kevin Kline), who she met on the plane? Luc is a thief with a plan to sell some stolen jewelry in order to buy some land in the wine region of Provence, so he stashes the gems in Megs purse while seated next to her on the plane....But Kate’s luggage and purse are stolen along with his secret stash…Luc offers to help her though we know his ulterior motive…. The story unfolds in the beautiful city of lights but Kate never really appreciates the sights as she roams the city in search of her love. What she does find surprises even her and there is a happily ever after ending. Nine Moulin Rouge This musical spectacle set in the Bohemian days of Paris is another exploration of love along with the joys and heartbreak that can be found in any relationship, even one as complicated as this one…Satine, (Nicole Kidman), a star entertainer in this most famous of all night clubs, falls in love with Christian, (Ewan McGregor), a song writer...But this love is going to be a difficult one since she is promised to the “Duke” in order to keep the Moulin Rouge open and alive…His obsession with her and her love for Christian plays out amidst the most incredible music and dance scenes imaginable…This is a story about love, and shows that nothing matters but that love. Ten Somethings Gotta Give My new favorite love story, a romantic comedy with an important tale to be told..Harry Sanborn,( Jack Nicholson) meets Erica Barry, (Diane Keaton), when he goes with his newest lady love for a tryst at her mothers house...Unexpectedly, Erica, the mother, is home and surprises abound.. One of which is a minor heart attack for Harry. When he needs to convalesce and cannot travel far he has to stay in Erica’s house for a few days. This begins a love story not expected or really wanted by either of them…Harry and Erica are both getting up in years, alone, but seem to like it that way and are not looking for romance, especially with each other. The unexpected happens and a relationship is formed...All is not smooth for them and they eventually call it quits…Time passes and Harry, a notorious womanizer, sees the error of his ways…When he tries to make amends he fly’s to Paris to find Erica only to be surprised himself …The movie ends on a happy note, Paris never looked better and is the perfect backdrop for this romantic comedy with a lot to say about life and the passage of time. To quote a passage from the movie,(one that completely hits home with me), as they are walking along the beach, talking about their lives, Erica looks at Harry and says, "It all goes by fast doesn’t it?". His reply, "In the blink of an eye". But the utmost message in this film is, you are never to old to find love. So that’s my list for the 10 most romantic movies...Whether you agree with my list or not, always remember that if you are not in a love now never give up hope for love can be just around the corner, on a beach, a plane or any other unexpected place…Just open your heart. Happy Valentines Day To My Honey and To You All.  |
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