Romantic Moment #4
An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
Now, I saw this movie a long time ago, and I loved Richard Gere as the very handsome Navy officer, (truth be told I love Navy uniforms).
Zachary “Zack” Mayo (Richard Gere) is heading out to Aviation Officer Candidate School. He’s had a hard life with the death of his mother, his father alcoholism and cruelty; but is determined to work hard and succeed.
Things don’t get much better as the Drill Sergeant Emil Foley really has it in for Zach.
He meets Paula Pokrifki (Debra Winger), a factory worker, at a Navy Ball and the two begin dating. His friend Sid Worley starts dating a fellow factory worker, Lynette Pomeroy.
Zach meets Paula’s family, but her stepfather doesn’t like him. He discovers that it is because when Paula’s mother was younger, she dated an AOC who took off when he found out she was pregnant.
Meanwhile, it turns out Sid has a serious girlfriend back home. However, Lynette keeps hinting that she is pregnant.
Sid, after having an anxiety attack, decides to leave the program realizing it is not for him. He goes to Lynette to ask her to marry him, but when she finds out he will not be in the Navy she refuses. It turned out that she was lying about being pregnant just to catch him, and doesn’t want anyone who wasn’t a Navy officer.
Zach becomes disheartened and upset about all that happens. He turns away from Paula and questions whether he should continue himself, or drop out as well.
Most Romantic Moment: You Are What I Really Want
My favorite part of the movie, and also being the most romantic, is in the end. Zach has achieved his dream of becoming an officer. All is right. Or is it?
Now that he his dream, he realizes that it pales in comparison to something else. That there is something more, something missing; Paula.
So he goes after her and carries her out of the factory she works in. Determined to marry her and make all her dreams come true.
I love this scene.
So romantic
Gotta love a man in uniform!
In fact this scene was so romantic that they copied it in Reba. When Van wanted to prove to Cheyenne that he really loved, that he married her not because she was pregnant but for love; he reenacts this scene.
I love it.
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 Fulfilling the List: A Walk to Remember (2002)
For more on Richard Gere, go We’re Buying This Dress: Runaway Bride (1999)
For more ’80s films, go to You May Screw Up, But You’re Not a Screw Up: Mystic Pizza (1988)
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