Romantic Film Friday

Day 246

It’s time for me to do another holiday-themed post about holiday-themed movies, and this month I’ll be posting about some of my favorite romantic films in celebration of…Presidents’ Day. NOT!! I actually am referring to Valentine’s Day, ya silly gooses (or is that geese?!) Anyway, here we go, in alphabetical order:

An Affair To Remember (1957)

* This beautiful tear-jerker stars Cary Grant (as Nickie Ferrante) and Deborah Kerr (as Terry McKay), two people who meet on a cruise and fall in love, even though they are both in other relationships. Grant and Kerr have amazing chemistry.

Barefoot In The Park (1967)

* Speaking of amazing chemistry Robert Redford and Jane Fonda are perfect as Paul and Corie Bratter, newlyweds adjusting to married life, from living in a very compact apartment to realizing how drastically different they are from one another. It’s a great comedy and Redford and Fonda are totally believable.

Brief Encounter (1945)

* Speaking of believable, this is a sad and utterly realistic movie that stars Celia Johnson as Laura, a married woman who meets a very handsome (and also married) doctor named Alec, portrayed by Trevor Howard. They quickly fall in love and have a series of meetings together, knowing that they will eventually have to part ways. A realistic (meaning unhappy) ending.

Camille (1936)

* Speaking of unhappy endings, this is a tragic love story that takes place in France in the 1840s. Armand (played by Robert Taylor) and Marguerite (played by Greta Garbo) meet and quickly fall in love, but their romance is doomed because Marguerite is dying and doesn’t want Armand to know. Garbo gives an excellent performance in this movie - her death scene is a classic!

Casablanca (1942)

* Speaking of classics, this movie is a classic in every way! Who hasn’t seen this brilliant masterpiece?! Humphrey Bogart is Rick, a club owner during the early days of WWII whose world is turned upside down by the return of the love of his life, Ilsa (played by Ingrid Bergman), a woman who jilted him years ago. This film is a real gem!

Defending Your Life (1991)

* Speaking of gems, this is a gem of a little movie and a very funny romantic comedy! Albert Brooks portrays Daniel Miller, a recently deceased man sent to Judgment City to have his life reviewed and judged to see if he is ready to “move forward.” During his stay he meets a lovely woman named Julia (played by Meryl Streep) and quickly falls for her. This is a sweet movie about life after death.

The Ghost And Mrs. Muir (1947)

* Speaking of life after death, this movie concerns the dead sea captain Daniel Gregg (played by Rex Harrison) who still resides at his home. Then one day a beautiful widow named Mrs. Muir (played by Gene Tierney) moves in with her daughter and her cook. Daniel tries to frighten Mrs. Muir away, but she insists on staying, and gradually the two become friends and then eventually fall in love.