Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Five of My Favorite Romantic Films - Happy Valentine's Day



Happy Valentine's Day My Readers and Friends!  

To commemorate the day I thought I would revisit five of my favorite romantic movies of all time. 

A Room with a View (1985)



The first time I saw this film I wanted to find a time machine and go back to Florence in 1900 and be Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter). Of course these days I’m more like her chaperone Charlotte (Maggie Smith).  This is the ultimate romantic film full of magnificent performances by masterful veteran character actors like Maggie Smith and Judi Dench together with talented future stars of the screen like Daniel Day-Lewis and Helena Bonham Carter.  Top this with the gorgeous backdrop of Florence, Italy and beautiful locations in England and you just have to swoon at the love story of Lucy and George (Julian Sand).




Truly, Madly, Deeply (1991)



Imagine the feeling of loss if the love of your life dies suddenly and you become inconsolable in your grief unable to move on.  Imagine that he suddenly comes back into your life and home as a ghost.  What would you do? How would you feel?  Would you try to keep him there forever? Is the man you’ve idealized in your grief truly the particular person you lived with for years? One of the most beautiful and most funny films I’ve ever seen about love and loss. A heartbreaking and hilarious performance by Alan Rickman, and a sweet and sad performance by Juliet Stevenson.  





Sleepless in Seattle (1993)



Inspired by another favorite romantic film of mine, An Affair to Remember (1957) with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, this is the ultimate “meet cute” romantic comedy.  Tom Hanks plays Sam the perfect regular guy next door and a widower with an adorable son.  Oh yes, he lives in Seattle. One day lonely but adorable Baltimore reporter Annie, played by improbably cute Meg Ryan, listens to Sam’s love story with his late wife and his yearning for a new partner to spend his life with.  Much mayhem and travel ensues until the meeting scene between them in the Empire State Building (see An Affair to Remember).




Persuasion (1995) 



If only we could meet the love we let go in our youth again and persuade him to try again.  This 1995 version of Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion is my favorite of all.  Amanda Root as Anne Elliott and Ciaran Hinds as Captain Wentworth are perfection in this film.  No matter how many times I watch it I feel the yearning of Anne and the pride of Wentworth and wonder why we so often neglect to follow our heart. 







How to Steal a Million (1966)



 A caper comedy/romance of the type they don’t make any more starring two movie legends, Peter O’Toole and Audrey Hepburn.  Both are at their most charming and handsome in this tale of the art thief (or is he?) and the heiress (or is she?) and the greatest museum heist of all time.  








Happy Valentine's Day


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9 comments:

  1. DEZMONDFebruary 14, 2012 at 9:11 AM

    Happy Valentines, Fabo!
    My fave romantic film is SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE with Sean Patrick Flannery and Sarah Michelle Gellar. One of the most unusual films ever. Mix of love, magic and food :)
    And speaking of romantic, love that pic of Luke and Aidan, looks like a beginning of a lovely romance to me :)))

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  2. FabolaktukoFebruary 14, 2012 at 9:23 PM

    Thanks for another new film to look for. I haven't seen Simply Irresistible...magic and food...intriguing.

    Agree very cute pic of Luke and Aidan together (Aidan's girlfriend might not think it's that romantic though -LOL).

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    1. DEZMONDFebruary 15, 2012 at 8:41 AM

      we won't tell her :) but I think Luke has a thing for Russell Tovey :) not for Aidan :) Fingers crossed that romance happens!

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  3. Phylly3February 16, 2012 at 8:11 PM

    I missed seeing this post until just now. I've seen all those wonderful movies except "How to Steal a Million". I love Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole. I didn't know they had worked together.
    As far as Audrey Hepburn goes... my favourite romantic film of hers is Roman holiday!

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    1. FabolaktukoFebruary 17, 2012 at 11:55 PM

      Hi Phylly! Thank you for your lovely comment.

      Roman Holiday is a great film too, who wouldn't want to be in Rome with Gregory Peck! If you love Hepburn and O'Toole I think you'll really like the film. Plus Audrey gets to wear some marvelous clothes.

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  4. bccmeeFebruary 18, 2012 at 4:21 PM

    I've seen three of your top five, so I'm thinking I need to see the other two! Thanks for the recommendations. :)

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  5. Gratiana LovelaceFebruary 19, 2012 at 10:31 AM

    Persuasion, check. Truly Madly Deeply, check. Sleepless in Seattle/An Affair to Remember, check, Room with a View, check. I've viewed 4 out of 5 of your choices--and I love them, too. I'll have to check out the Audrey Hepburn film with Peter O'Toole. Thanks for the suggestion.

    I especially like the Persuasion version you chose. Ciaran Hinds smoulders very well. Though, my all time favorite remains, North & South with Richard Armitage. Sighhh!
    Cheers! Grati ;->

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    1. FabolaktukoFebruary 20, 2012 at 12:26 PM

      I'm with you Grati - I love Ciaran Hinds in Persuasion and I think it will always be the best film/TV version of the novel. Hope you like the Hepburn - O'Toole film :)

      Thanks for your lovely comments.

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