Sunday, February 10, 2008

THAT'S AMORE

Corriere della Sera has a San Valentino poll for the best romantic film. Of those listed, I think I'd go for the Bridges of Madison County as that part where Streep actually has her hand on the car door handle as she fights the temptation to just run into her lover's truck in the rain tears at my heartstrings every time! - Definitely a two-boxes-of-tissues occasion, watching that. Casablanca would be second for me. They truly don't make them like that any more!

I notice that Gone with the Wind is on the list but I have two problems with this still great film: one is the stereotyping of the black characters and the other - and I say this as a woman who has spent a lifetime falling for hopeless men - is that even I cannot understand why Scarlett wastes so much time and emotion on dopey Ashley Wilkes. Who'd want him, anyway? I just can't bear the scenes about Bonnie's death and the episode I like best in both the film and the book is the one in which Scarlett has her mother's velvet curtains made into an outfit when she goes to ask Rhett for money. Many times, if I've been down on my luck and needing to look good for a man [not that I've ever asked one for money, I hasten to add!] I have reminded myself of Scarlett and those curtains: there's always a way!

Two films which I think should be listed are An Affair to Remember and the forgotten Great Man's Lady [that one is a three-boxes job!] I would take off Love Story simply because of that awful line about love meaning "never having to say you're sorry". In my experience, it involves having to say just that most of the time!

What is your favourite romantic film?

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

20 comments:

James Higham said...

Casablanca would be second for me. They truly don't make them like that any more!

They don't but some write them.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Plug taken, James!

Richard Havers said...

I've always felt that Madison was a much better film than book. An affair To Remember is a great call.

Trubes said...

I loved the book of The Bridges of Madison County but found the film disappointing. I suppose this may often be the case if you read the book first.
My all time favourite movie is Doctor Zhivago,(the original version).

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Richard. I have never read the "Madison" book so can't judge that one! It's interesting how some films are betetr than the books and vice-versa, though, isn't it? Hi, Trubes. Other way round for you, then! I loved the original Zhivago film, too. And I first read the book in Italian!

Leslie: said...

Oh yes, that scene in Bridges of Madison County is a corker! How tempting to go, but how cruel it would have been to her husband. *sigh* One of my choices would be "The Way We Were" because they really did love each other even after they split up. The last scene when they run into each other again makes me cry every time! You can tell their love was so passionate, even though it never worked.

jmb said...

One on the list I liked was The Way We Were. I reallyliked that film.

The story of the velvet curtains in Gone with the Wind is probably one of the best things in that book and film.

Unknown said...

I came across Bridges a few weeks ago (lunch-time tv movie) and rememebr the scene you are referring to Welshcakes.

For me it would probably be Dirty Dancing - saw it first as a teenager and it was kinda like a fairy tale for me. Haven't seen it for a few years but I do know I cried last time I did.

BTW I wouldn't actually want to see this with a 'love' - more like, watch it and dream :-)

Anonymous said...

Oh WL, we were destined to be friends - "I think I'd go for the Bridges of Madison County" - definitely, and did not need to read your suggestion to say the exact same one myself! I also read the book and found it just as real and moving.

Anonymous said...

Just watched the clip and others - thanks for the tissue moment, WL.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Welshcakes! You've had me laughing all day, ever since I read your post this morning. It's the thought of you doing the Scarlett thing with the curtain dress.

Carol Burnett is an extremely talented and much-loved commedienne. She had a long-running sketch show in the States. One of their regular schticks was to do parodies of classic movies, much like French and Saunders did. Their version of GWTW is famous. Here is Part Two of it. The business with the dress is about 3-1/2 minutes in. Absolute genius.

I'm laughing again just thinking about. Thanks for brightening a rather dreary Monday!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Leslie. Yes, her husband was a decent man and wouldn't have deserved that. I cry for him, too, when I watch it! "The Way We Were" gets me going, too! Hi, jmb. Glad you agree re the "curtains" episode. Hi, mg. I do know what you mean about not wanting to watch it with a beloved, then dreaming! Hi, Shirl. Yes, we were definitely meant to be friends! So good to know you like this too. Hope you didn't cry too much, though! Hi, Ludlingtonian. I remember Carol Burnett and will watch the clip in a mo. Thank you. Glad I made you laugh. But now I'm wondering, what's a girl to do in this curtainless country??!!

marymaryquitecontrary said...

I do love all the films already mentioned. However I recently watched Miss Potter TWICE in a row I enjoyed it so much.

Ellee Seymour said...

My favourite is Dr Zhivago for romance and passion, politics and intruge.

Are the Sicilians getting excited about Valentine'sDay, btw? Do they go overboard with it?

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, MM: Funnily enough, "Miss Potter" was on Sky here Sun night! Of course, I loved it and cried like crazy! Ciao, Ellee. And Dr Z is another great one - you are right. I like the original film. San Val is celebrated here but they don't go mad!

Mopsa said...

That's heartrending stuff, Bridges of Madison County; I'd forgotten just how powerful it was til I saw the clip. As for Scarlett and Ashley, she doesn't love him, as she finally comes to realise; she feels she loves him purely because she cannot have him. What a lily-livered lover Ashley would make; only trumped in that department by Angel Clare in Tess of the D'Urbevilles (film or book as you will) who I despise more fulsomely than is probably safe!
As for luscious, desperate love films, Judy Garland and James Mason in A Star is Born does it for me.

Liz Hinds said...

I'm racking my brains to think of some romantic films! Looking at the bookshelf, I must be more of a funny film person.

Probably 2 of my favourite films though are Dead Poets Society (top of the list) and Moulin Rouge (but for the style and music rather than the romance).

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, Mopsa. Totally agree re Ashley. Oh, yes, "A Star is Born" is one of the greats, too. Hi, Liz. I like both of those films, too.

Indigo-Daisy said...

My all time favorites are a little corny, but I love French Kiss with Meg Ryan, and Sabrina with Harrison Ford.

And then on the other end, although it is quite sad, I like the Italian film "Life is Beautiful". But I have to be in a more somber mood to watch it.

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Hi, indigo-daisy. "La Vita è Bella" is one I have to be in a certain mood to watch, too. It is certainly a wonderful film.

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