We watched You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle this past weekend and, of course, they got me thinking about other great romantic movies. So after some serious pondering, I put together a list of my all-time favorites.
Out of Africa
Rose-lipt maidens and lightfoot lads. The music, the scenery, the clothing (didn’t Banana Republic stores start popping up after this movie came out?), the star-crossed lovers. Tim and I each get weepy in a different scene.
A Room with a View
Mr. Beebe said it well: “If Miss Honeychurch ever takes to live as she plays, it will be very exciting—both for us and for her.”
An Affair to Remember
The mother of all romantic tear-jerkers. “If you can paint, I can walk!”
Sleepless in Seattle
This movie gave us Harry Connick, Jr. and tiramisu. And, for me, the happy discovery that I’m not the only one who loves An Affair to Remember.
You’ve Got Mail
The plot is wonderful but aren’t the trappings what really get us? The charming bookstore, Brinkley the golden retriever, Meg Ryan’s hair, her turtlenecks and tights, her apartment….
The Family Man
I think what I like most about this movie is how much my husband likes it.
Casablanca
I wavered between this and To Catch a Thief (featuring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in Monaco) but Casablanca has everything—including a hero who loves his heroine enough to let her go.
Stranger Than Fiction
Who doesn’t melt when Harold brings flours to the prickly Ana?
Somewhere in Time
Is it far-fetched? I don’t care—it’s all so beautiful. I saw it the year I turned twelve and it broke my heart.
Pride and Prejudice (BBC version with Colin Firth)
A mini-series rather than a movie, but Colin Firth IS Mr. Darcy. And there’s that scene by the lake.
So those are my all-time favorite romantic movies. Did I include yours?
You forgot ‘The Dirty Dozen’. When Jim Brown is running from the Nazis and throwing those hand grenades…
What about Love Actually, The Notebook, Under the Tuscan Sun (not a traditional romance movie but great)
Oh, Kathy. I think I cried the hardest I ever have during The Notebook. Great picks!
No. No, but… but there’s the dream of someone else.
Sigh. Now I must watch You’ve Got Mail. I love Kathleen. Her spirit and her heart (and her bookstore!)
“Don’t cry, Shopgirl. Don’t cry.”
Very funny, Tim. Now tell us your real ones.
Well, okay. You’ve got pretty good coverage here, but for me it all comes back to Blade Runner. I know that romance and dystopian sci-fi don’t usually go together, but what about falling in love with and running away with the genetically engineered replicant that you’re supposed to ‘retire’, knowing that your relationship is forbidden under penalty of death?
Yes, there’s a lot of romance in that movie, Tim.
Just remembered the Jane Eyre series with Timothy Dalton as Mr. Rochester. Me and my BFF wore out that video.
The closest I get to having a favorite “romance” movie is Harold and Maude. And, maybe The Graduate. Do they count?
Sure, they count!
I’ll second The Notebook and suggest Say Anything!
Lloyd Dobler! I haven’t seen that in ages….
My favorite’s are Persuasion with Amanda Root, charade- Audrey Hepburn /Cary Grant, Terminator ( the first movie- love that one) , The Sure Thing, when Harry met Sally, and one of my recent favorites Dear Frankie ( which I absolutely love and recommend). Thanks for sharing your selections!
Persuasion! With Ciaran Hinds? aka Aberforth Dumbledore? That is a great choice. And I swear I had Charade on my list before I narrowed it down to 10. Terminator is a very interesting choice—I can see where you’re coming from. Same with all the others. I haven’t heard of Dear Frankie, but I’m googling it right now….
I love that you noted the Darcy lake scene. 🙂
Good catch on Ciaran Hinds in the Harry Potter movie. I had not made that connection ! Yes while I love Pride and Prejudice, my favorite book and movie of Jane Austen’s is definitely Persuasion ( especially that version). I just love Wentworth’s letter at the end! I haven’t seen Stranger than Fiction – it’s going on my list of movies to see soon! Thanks!