Scorpios are considered to be the most romantic of all zodiac signs, and me belonging to that category, does have a romantic streak. But if there is one genre of movies I avoid like plague it’s the candyfloss romantic stuff which is shown. Come on most of those romances are so cloyingly artificial and fake. Cant two normal ordinary people love and romance? Fortunately Hollywood does come up with some great romances time to time. Of late though most of the Hollywood romances are sick and avoidable. So here are some great romantic movies of Hollywood.
What makes a movie romantic ?
Well I think 3 factors, one is the story . Boy meets girl or those Cinderella type of romances leave me plain cold. The second is the direction . Titanic was a typical boy meets girl story, but the way James Cameron handled it was fascinating. That said Titanic wouldn’t be featuring in this list. Its too over rated in my opinion. And most important the chemistry between the lead pair.
Taking into account all these factors here are my top 10 romantic movies.
- Roman Holiday, 1953
Easily the best romantic movie for me. The movie deals with the romance between Princess Ann( Audrey Hepburn), who runs away from the boredom of her royal life, and an American reporter Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) who is covering the Princess tour in Rome. She bumps into Bradley and the subsequent events where she learns about ordinary people and the love between her and Bradley is beautifully shown. Audrey Hepburn with her slim, delicate figure was a perfect fit for the role of Princess, while Peck was every inch the archetypal rugged American hero. And together on screen they were just magic.
- Cassablanca, 1942
“Play it again Sam” is a quote that has gone down in movie history. And the movie that popularized it is Cassablanca. The movie was a love triangle centered around 3 characters Ilsa( Ingrid Bergman) and her husband Viktor( Heinrich Reid) both of them resistance fighters, and Rick ( Humphrey Bogart) a bar owner in the city of Cassablanca, and Ilsa’s former lover. By a turn of fate Ilsa comes to Cassablanca along with her husband, escaping from the Nazis, and she lands up in Rick’s café. Bogart known mostly for his tough guy gangster roles played his first romantic role and he makes a great pair with Bergman. Bogart’s rough and tough demeanor beautifully contrasts with Bergman’s feminity and you want these two lovers to run away.
- Ghost, 1990
I watched this movie when I was a student and was just swept away by it. And even now I still love this movie. Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are in love, when Swayze is murdered in a hit and run case. However his spirit still exists and how he protects his love is what the movie is about. Demi Moore was just exquisite in this movie, and she made a great pair with Swayze. The first sequence where the couple make love to the strains of Endless Love is sure to bring out the romantic in you. And for me the best sequence is when Moore is convinced that Swayze’s spirt still exists for her.
- End of the Affair, 1999
Wonderful romantic movie starring Ralph Fiennes and Julianne Moore. Fiennes plays the role of novelist Maurice Bendrix who meets his ex lover Sarah played by Julianne Moore who is by now married to Henry Miles. Sarah finds it unable to control her feelings for Bendrix, and the movie deals with the relationship between these two. Great performances by Fiennes and Moore, and again these two share an excellent rapport together.
- Summer of ’42, 1971
The movie explores the love between a young teen Hermie growing up on a lonely island and Dorothy a much older woman whose husband is on the war front. When Dorothy’s husband is on the war front, the closeness between them grows. The romance between a younger guy and an elder lady needed a sensitive handling and that is the strength of this movie. And of course a lovely background score.
- Bridges of Madison County, 1995
Excellent romantic tale. The movie explores the romantic love between a housewife Francesca( Meryl Streep) and a National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid(Clint Eastwood). Lovely mature romance handled beautifully. Great performances by Eastwood and Streep make it a must see.
- Love Story, 1970
Heart touching tale based on a love story between a working class Italian girl Jennifer( Ali Mc Graw) and a Boston heir ( Ryan O Neal). They fall in love, marry but ultimately discover fate has something in store for them. Again a great background score and lovey scenes of romance.
- A Walk in the Clouds
Keanu Reeves stars as a soldier discharged from the war who has to act as a husband to a young Mexican woman who is pregnant and ditched by her love. He comes as her husband and in the process they really fall in love. The movie contains many excellent romantic sequences and is a must for all die hard romantics.
- When Harry Met Sally, 1989
Meg Ryan gained her fame as a romantic comedy specialist in this movie with Billy Crystal. The movie deals with the relationship between these two as they meet again and again , while trying to discover true love with their other partners. Famous for the faked orgasm sequence of Ryan. And also Ryan & Crystal light up the screen when they are together.
- The English Patient, 1996
Anthony Mighnella’s epic movie stars Ralph Fiennes as a pilot whose face is horribly burnt out in an accident and his tender romance with an English nurse played by Juliette Binoche. A movie that is a must see, for the great performances by Fiennes and Binoche, and the tender moments of romance between them.