Well, Valentine’s Day is coming up, and you all know what that means: 14 posts on some of my favorite romantic moments from some of my favorite films. To review the top 14 romantic moments from last year, go here. Otherwise get ready for the romance and love headed your way.
I love this movie so much! It is one of my favorite romantic films. I mean it has CARY GRANT in it, so already you know it is going to be wonderful.
Aw!
Now even if you haven’t seen it, this film may sound familiar to you. This is the film the Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks film that Sleepless in Seattle is based around. An Affair to Remember is the film that Meg Ryan’s character, Annie, and Rosie O’Donnell’s character, Becky, are crazy about. Even Tom Hanks character Sam’s sister Suzy, (played by Tom Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson) adores it. In fact if you haven’t seen either movie I recommend watching An Affair to Remember before Sleepless in Seattle. You just enjoy the movie on a deeper level that way.
An Affair to Remember is a remake of Love Affair starring Charles Boyer and Irene Dunne. As much as I like original films and Irene Dunne, I prefer An Affair to Remember because of Cary Grant. Like I said before, I’m a big fan.
An Affair to Remember is about two people who meet on a cruise and fall in love, although both’s affections are engaged elsewhere. Nickie Ferrante, (Cary Grant), is a playboy engaged to Lois Clark; while Terry McKay, (Deborah Kerr), is mistress to Kenneth Bradley. The two try to stay apart but spend dinners together, walks, Terry even meets Nick’s grandmother; and the two end up falling in love.
As both feel they are not good enough with the life styles they have been living, (both living off money provided from the people they are dating.) They agree to each live on their own and meet up in six months at the top of the Empire State Building. If the other doesn’t show up; the one waiting will know that they decided to go on with their life in the original direction planned.
In six months, Nickie is a painter and he eagerly rushes to the Empire State Building. Terry is a singer in a nightclub, and on her way to meet Nickie, she gets hit by a cab; paralyzed for the rest of her life. Nickie ends up waiting the whole night for her, but she never comes.
It’s so Sad!
Terry tells Nickie nothing about the accident, feeling that she is not worthwhile being paralyzed. She is too proud to go to him, and too scared. The two cross paths at a concert, and Nickie sees her with her old boyfriend, hurt and betrayed at what he thinks she did.
Will they be reunited or is this affair over for good?
This romantic moment comes at the very end. It is the most romantic and I am so sorry I don’t have a video to show you, but I couldn’t find one.
It is Christmas day and Terry has decided to spend it home alone, when Nickie shows up, angry, bitter and hurt; but determined to give her the shawl that his grandmother left Terry when she died.
He tells her he painted a picture of her, and didn’t sell it. Instead a woman in a wheelchair wanted it, and didn’t have enough money so he had his dealer give it to her.
“Nickie Ferrante: You know, l painted you like that, with the shawl. l wish you could have seen it. Courbet said it was one of my best. l didn’t think l could ever part with it, but there was no reason to keep it any longer. l couldn’t take money for it because, well, you know…So Courbet told me a young woman came into the gallery and… she liked it. She saw in it what l’d hoped you’d see, so… l told Courbet to give it to her. Because he said she didn’t have any money, and not only that, she was…Anyway, l told him to give it to her…”
At first he is angry that she is so indifferent to him, and never even gets up to greet him just laying on the couch; but as he is talking he starts thinking about the woman in the wheelchair and Terry’s actions. Could they be the same person?
Nickie looks around, and then he sees it. THE PAINTING!
He runs to her and holds her in his arms.
This is the part everyone starts weeping at, bawling. Who can blame them? It is such a sweet moment, the two reunited.
“Terry McKay: Darling, don’t look at me like that.
Nickie Ferrante: Why didn’t you tell me? If it had to happen to one of us, why did it have to be you?
Terry McKay: It was nobody’s fault but my own. l was looking up. It was the nearest thing to heaven. You were there.
Nickie Ferrante: Oh, darling.
Terry McKay: Don’t worry, darling. If you can paint, l can walk. Anything can happen, don’t you think?
Nickie Ferrante: Yes, darling.
Terry McKay: Yes, darling.”
So romantic
So in Sleepless in Seattle, you get some great scenes of the women talking about this moment.
One of the best scenes is in the beginning when Becky and Annie are watching An Affair to Remember. I love this scene because it is the kind of conversations I have with my friends after I watch a great movie. I am always Annie in these scenarios.
“Annie Reed: Now those were the days when people knew how to be in love.
Becky: You’re a basket case.
Annie Reed: They knew it. Time, distance, nothing could separate them, because they knew it was right. It was real. It was…
Becky: A movie. That’s your problem. You don’t want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie.
And then one of my favorite scenes is when Suzy shares the story of An Affair to Remember with her brother Sam and husband. The guys make fun of her, but I love this scene because when I bring up the story of An Affair to Remember I tell it in the exact same way Suzy does.
I love this scene because I can see myself having the reaction of Annie or Becky.
And in the end Annie and Sam get the romantic ending that Terry and Nickie never got.
To start Romance is in the Air from the beginning, go to Boom Box of Love: Say Anything (1989)
For the previous post, go to You’re Just Too Good Too Be True: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
For more on An Affair to Remember, go to People Have to Snatch at Happiness When They Can in This World. It is Always Easier to Lose Than to Find: O Pioneers!
For more on Cary Grant, go to On the 7th Day ‘Til Christmas: The Bishop’s Wife (1947)
For more on falling in love at a bad time, go to If I Never Knew You
For more remakes, go to A Tale So Strange It Must Be True: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (2005)
Well this is the seventh post which means we are halfway done! Yay! This also means only seven days ’til Valentine’s Day, so if you haven’t picked anything up for your loved one, ya might want to start thinking ’bout it.
Enchanted was such an awesome movie. All the characters are really great, the storyline is amazing, the songs are perfection, and all the disney references magical. I love this movie, and am proud to have it be the halfway mark.
So Giselle (Amy Adams) is sent to the real world by the evil queen (Susan Sarandon), who doesn’t want her to marry her stepson, Prince Edward (James Marsden <3), and take her place.
She is found by Robert Phillips (Patrick Dempsey) and his daughter who take her in. Robert is a divorce lawyer, (and divorced himself), who doesn’t believe in true love, fairy tales, etc; pretty much anything romantic is nonsense. A super realist.
Robert has been dating his girlfriend Nancy for like five years, and no hint of proposing and he’s never done anything romantic for her.
Robert is the girl in this scenario.
So Nancy misunderstands what is happening between Robert and Giselle; and Giselle tries to patch everything up. She finds out that they are having a King and Queens Ball that weekend, and thinks it will be the perfect present for Nancy. However Robert isn’t really into that.
“Giselle: [singing] Well, does he take you out dancing just so he can hold you close?
Robert: [speaking] I don’t dance!
Giselle: Dedicate a song, with words meant just for you? Ooh ooh…
Robert: [speaking] And I really don’t sing.“
But Giselle sends the tickets off with lovebirds and flowers to Nancy so Robert and Nancy can fix everything and get back together. But things are changing between Giselle and Robert. Robert is starting to relax and realize that he doesn’t need to be serious and bitter all the time. Being with Giselle is changing him, he’s letting down all the walls he created to keep himself from being hurt again.
Giselle is also growing; she is becoming more sure of herself, independent, etc. When Prince Edward finds her and is ready to take her back to Andalasia, she doesn’t quite want to go. She has started to like living in the “real world” rather than the “fairy tale”. She and Edward go on a date, and the last thing she wants to do before going back is the King and Queen’s ball.
Now here is the romantic part. At the ball, they announce a dance that one must do with someone that is not their date. As Prince Edward doesn’t know anyone, he asks Nancy to dance, and then Robert asks Giselle.
He’s dancing with her! He hates to dance, but when the two dance they just gaze at each other in complete adoration. And if that’s not romantic enough, he sings to her. SINGS!
How romantic
You just see in that moment how much they love each other! 😀 You just see how the two being out the best in each other!
Aw!
The only thing I don’t like is Giselle’s dress. I know it is supposed to signify her compete transformation and acceptance of “our world”, but it is not a very good color on her and flattens her out. I love Robert’s outfit though.
They are supposed to be making an Enchanted 2, but it looks like it has been a while since they last updated their info. If interested here’s some info.
To start Romance is in the Air from the beginning, go to Boom Box of Love: Say Anything (1989)
For the previous post, go to I Wouldn’t Change You, Darling: Shrek 2 (2004)
For more on Enchanted, go to According to Disney
For more on Amy Adams, go to I Choose You: Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (2008)
For more on Patrick Dempsey, go to All I Know About Trilogies is That in the Third One, All Bets are Off: Scream 3 (2000)
For more Disney, go to On the 11th Day ‘Til Christmas: The Santa Clause (1994)
For more fairy tales, go to You Should Write A Book
The Wedding Singer is my favorite Adam Sandler movie. I also love this movie because of how jam packed it is with ’80s music, moments, and outfits.
I LOVE the ’80s
Almost every line in this film is amazing! I can’t describe how much I enjoy this film; I pretty much have the whole thing memorized.
The film is about wedding singer Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) being jilted at the altar by his long time girlfriend Linda.
Julia (Drew Barrymore) a fellow co-worker and friend; tries to get him out of his depression by having him help her plan her wedding. Soon Julia and Robby start developing feelings for each other.
Julia’s fiancé is a self-centered jerk that is cheating on her, so Robby tries to tell her how he feels. But through a series of misunderstandings, each thinks the other doesn’t care for them.
It all comes to head when Julia decides to fly off to Vegas to be married and Robby chases after her.
Robby jumps on the last flight, scoring the only available seat in first class. There he befriends everyone by telling them the story of him and Julia. Billy Idol has a priceless part in this. Love him!
After Robbie finishes, they discover that Julia is on the same flight with the jerk fiancé, Glen. Robbie, Billy, and the rest of the first class passengers take over the intercom system and Robbie sings a romantic song he wrote for her.
Now this song and moment is really romantic for three reasons:
First: He WROTE HER A SONG! AND IS SERENADING HER! Now what can be more romantic than that? This is on boom box level. Every girl dreams of having a song written, dedicated, and serenaded to her. It’s one of those romantic clichés we all dream about.
So romantic
Second: He wrote this song because of what Julia told him about her views on love and finding “the one” were.
“Robbie: How did you know that Glenn was the right one?
Julia: The right one, ah… I always just envisioned the right one being someone I could see myself growing old with.
Robbie: Yeah.
Julia: And… Glenn would be a really good-looking older man. Like Blake Carrington.
Robbie: I’m gonna probably look like Buddy Hackett.“
He knew that finding someone to grow old with was most important thing to her; so not only did he choose to write a song for her about her ideals, but she also has the knowledge that she inspired him, she’s his muse.
So romantic
Third: If you actually review the lyrics of the song they are really meaningful. I had to do a write up for one of my classes on what song I thought was most romantic; and I chose this one. I love this song because it shows the commitment and value that he is placing on their relationship and marriage. A friend of mine once said that, “Love is knowing someone is always there for you, for better or for worst, sickness or in health. No matter what happens or what hardships you face, you face them together, and always knowing that you are not alone.”; and I feel this song really captures that sentiment.
[Billy Idol (Speaking):] Good afternoon everyone.
We’re flying at 26, 000 feet, moving
Up to thirty thousand feet, and then we’ve got clear skies
All the way to Las Vegas, and right now we’re bringing you some in-flight
Entertainment. One of our first-class passengers would like to sing you a song
Inspired by one of our coach passengers, and since we let our first-class
Passengers do pretty much whatever they want, here he is.
[Robbie Hart (Singing):]
I wanna make you smile whenever you’re sad
Carry you around when your arthritis is bad
Oh all I wanna do is grow old with you
I’ll get your medicine when your tummy aches
Build you a fire if the furnace breaks
Oh it could be so nice, growing old with you
I’ll miss you
Kiss you
Give you my coat when you are cold
Need you
Feed you
Even let ya hold the remote control
So let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink
Put you to bed when you’ve had too much to drink
I could be the man who grows old with you
I wanna grow old with you
So romantic
To start Romance is in the Air from the beginning, go to Boom Box of Love: Say Anything (1989)
For the previous post, go to Carried Away: An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
For more on The Wedding Singer, go to Love Stinks
On an unrelated note, this marks my 100th post! Yay! I hope you all have been enjoying reading as much as I like making ’em. Happy 100th Post!
Took me less than six months! I’m impressed with myself.
For the 200th post, go to A Letter of Love: Persuasion (2007)
On the 10th Day ’til Christmas my blogger gave to me
A Jane Austen Birthday Wish!
For those of you who don’t know, today is Jane Austen’s birthday. If she was alive today, she would be 237 years old. I know it’s not a Christmas-y movie, but what kind of Austenite would I be if I completely ignored the fact that it is her birthday on my blog?
Jane Austen was an amazing woman who faced all kinds of adversary. Her father was a minister, and while well off to begin with, they ended up losing most of their money living in poverty. She fell in love with a high class man, and wanted to marry him; but his family intervened and sent him away. She was given another opportunity to marry a wealthy man that would have saved her and her family from destitution, but she couldn’t marry him. She continued to wait for her true love; although he never walked back into her life. Her first book she ever wrote, Northanger Abbey (then called Lady Susan) was published post-mortem. Her second novel and the most famous, Pride and Prejudice, was turned down several times before being published. In fact, it was published after she wrote her third novel, Sense and Sensibility.
Austen wrote not only great stories that have stood the test of time, but wrote about real issues and her more radical thoughts/philosophies, that wouldn’t be as easily accepted if spoken in person. In Northanger Abbey, we are all delighted as the main character is someone we can easily connect to. We all feel like Catherine at times in our lives, hoping that we will have an adventure and meet a dashing hero.
This idea of a girl wanting the life of a novel, and ending up living one is later used and recycled in films such as Romancing the Stone. Austen also pokes fun at all the social graces and little customs one must abide by, even though they are silly. It is a satire on societal rules and the gothic novel itself. However, it is a great book and one of Austen’s favorites.
Pride and Prejudice has so many things that are amazing to it. First of all parts of it are taken from her own life-a middle class woman falling for a high class man. Unfortunately she didn’t get the same ending. But Pride and Prejudice has such wit and wonderful lines; there is a reason why it is referenced in everything, has had a ton of movies and TV shows, spinoffs, vlogs, blogs, etc. I love it because the characters are so real. Elizabeth and Darcy are everywhere in the world. I’m a Darcy myself; every time I read it I always feel for him. But more on our shared traits later. I’m also an Elizabeth, they way she treats Darcy and others, when reading that its like looking into a mirror.
Go here to see who you are.
Emma, well I already stated that she and I have a lot alike. Sister’s amor hating you, a guy who won’t stop following you around. In my case 3), a friend who has a trifecta of boys rejecting her, deciding to become a spinster, and has meddled in friend’s love lives…need I go on? There are probably many of you out there who have had similar experiences. Not only that, but Jane Austen was able to share her own ideas of spinsterhood and how being a spinster who could care for one self (like Jane was able to in her writing) was nothing to look down on or pity. Austen said she was going to make a character that only she would love, but Emma has become beloved by all. Just like her modern counterpart, Cher from Clueless, there is something about that girl that is just lovable.
Mansfield Park, while it isn’t my favorite is still a great read. We see a woman, although she is meek and timid through most of the novel, isn’t afraid to say no to a “a good thing”. *Spoiler Alert stop reading now if you haven’t read the book* When Henry Crawford asks her to marry him, even though he is rich and could save her family from destitution, she says no. She holds out for her number one, even when threatened to be kicked out of the Bertram house. Very Austonian there. She even continues to be kind and nice to all around her, even though they constantly use and abuse her. She is a true heroine, very Uncle Tom, never turning to hate or anger.
I know I could never do that; Aunt Norris would have been punched in the eye already.
But Fanny continues to be good, and when everyone else’s lives fall apart; she is there to help all pick up the pieces. The whole guy being blinded by the wrong girl, is also very real, I’ve had two friends like that.
Sense and Sensibility, deals with the line between expression. I liked how there is the question of whether too much of either is bad and how much does one need? We have Marianne full of sensibilities, wearing her heart on her sleeve; but we see this gets her into trouble as she expresses too much, before anything is promised to her.
Elinor, expresses nothing, being purely intellectual and sensible; but this causes her to almost lose the man she loves.
While both sisters are the best of friends; their extremes cause the other to never fully know their sister. Marianne can never see what Elinor is feeling and makes all these assumptions about a “frozen” heart. Elinor on the other hand, never imagines that Marianne has any sense as she assumes she is solely governed by feelings. I liked how the sisters were never privy to each others complete secrets as I feel this is realistic. I can see myself and my sister in these.
Persuasion, is one of the saddest novels that Austen wrote, because even though it ends happily it was pure wish fulfillment. *Spoiler Alert stop reading now if you haven’t read the book* Anne is persuaded by her friend to not marry her love. He ends up leaving but returns, and after a series of misunderstandings the two are reunited. Austen always hoped that her love would return just like Captain Wentworth, but he never did.
She also uses a strong irony in this as Anne was rich when she turned down poor Wentworth, but when he returns Anne is poor and Wentworth rich. I simply love this book because it seems so real, how the characters react and treat each other are the emotions they actually would. Austen also does a great line about women being portrayed as a “femme fatale” so often as men are the writers of these novels; therefore the view is biased. Great book to check out.
Austen lived only 42 years, but changed the history of the novel with her great works. She has changed my life and I hope you give her a chance to influence yours. Happy Birthday Jane!
Now to tie this into Christmas:
“The very first day that [James] Morland came to us last Christmas–the very first moment I beheld him–my heart was irrecoverably gone.”
-Northanger Abbey, pg 142
“I sincerely hope your Christmas in Hertfordshire may abound in the gaieties which the season generally brings…”
-Pride and Prejudice, pg 122
“I remember last Christmas…he danced from eight o’clock to four, without once sitting down.”
Sense and Sensibility, pg 30
“If they were at home to grace the ball, a ball you would have this very Christmas.”
-Mansfield Park, pg 262
“At Christmas every body invites their friends and thinks little of even the worst weather.”
-Emma, pg 97
“On one side was a table occupied by chattering girls, cutting up silk and gold paper; and on the other were tressels and trays, bending under the weight of brawn and cold pies, where riotous boys were holding high revel; the whole completed by a roaring Christmas fire…”
Persuasion, pg 80
To start the 12 Posts of Christmas from the beginning, go to On the 12th Day ’til Christmas: The 12 Men of Christmas (2009)
For the previous post, go to On the 11th Day ’til Christmas: The Santa Clause (1994)
For another Northanger Abbey post, go to Mr. Tilney’s Dating Tips
For more Pride & Prejudice, go to On the 12th Day ‘Til Christmas: The 12 Men of Christmas (2009)
For another Sense & Sensibility post, go to Let’s Hear It For the Boys
For more on Emma, go to By George He’s Perfect!
For more on Mansfield Park, go to Part IX: Adventures in Movie Lines
For another Persuasion post go to A Fredrick Wentworth Sighting
janeaustenrunsmylife 