Remember this is a subjective list and I am just repeating what the "experts" have declared as the top ten Romantic Comedies.
10 - Sleepless in Seattle
9 - Harold and Maude
8 - Moonstruck
7 - Adam's Rib
6 - When Harry Met Sally (ok the deli scene is one of the best - "I'll have
what she is having")
5 - Philadelphia Story
4 - Roman Holiday
3 - It Happened One Night
2 - Annie Hall
1 - City Lights (I am not a silent movie fan so this choice disappoints me)
What surprises you the most that its on the list and what is missing from the list? My choice is as I said City Lights to even make the top ten let alone the number one choice. Not sure what I am surprised at not being on the list - there are too many movies that I personally loved that are not here.
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Hi Joanne,
ReplyDeleteThanks for raising the topic of favorite romantic movies back into our view. I’ve seen all of these movies except “City Lights”. They are all excellent movies and I have no problem being listed among the greats. Personally I would rate some of them below many of the favorites that we listed in your “Fools Rush In” post.
I like silent movies. They lend themselves to physical comedy (especially Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton). I have a higher tolerance for slapstick than many well-read people. However, is “City Lights” really the best romantic comedy of all time? I wonder if it was listed in part because of its influence and originality (since it was so early). I guess I need to see it.
I also wonder that Harold and Maude made this list. I’d classify this movie more as dark comedy than romantic comedy. At the time it came out, it was best known for being off-the-wall and for the contrast of his obsession with death and her love of life. Romance is a theme, but not the central one in my memory of the movie.
Someday, I think we should select favorite movies on our lists, all watch or re-watch them and then devote posts to them. Like a book club, but a lot less time.
Jim
I have seen most of these movies. One of my favorite movies and I feel it falls into the romantic comedy genre is Love Actually. Not only is the cast phenomenal, but it is so fun to watch. I am biased because I will watch anything with Colin Firth in it.
ReplyDeleteMelanie
Great post! I am only so-so on this list. I have to agree with HCM that Love Actually is SUPERB and both funny and poignant! Great cast, I very much agree!
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite movie, and romantic movie of all time is a bit off the beaten path and may not have many of you in accord with me, but it is 'Brokeback Mountain'. This movie touched my soul and moved me beyond words. The point of the movie is living a life with regret, something I try hard not to do. This movie makes me cry (I NEVER cry), and even hearing the music out of context will make me weepy.
I will have to think about some more romantic titles and what I have loved. Too many to think of right now.
Heidi~
ReplyDeleteSister from another mother, I HEART "Brokeback." Not only are those two smokin' gents, but their love, gosh, it's just so beautiful to watch. The final scene with the shirt breaks my heart.
As for the others, lemme think about my list. Truth be told, I've seen 1 and 1/2 of the above movies. For serious. I better get watchin'
:)Leen
OK--I've seen every movie on this list except Harold and Maude (which I know is a huge cult favorite, so I have it on my Netflix list...but am just never in the right mood to see it).
ReplyDeleteBut I got hit with the thought that these couldn't be the top 10...what about this? and that? And realized as I usually do when thinking really hard about it, that there are so very, very few top quality romantic comedies. Even the ones that we love are really flawed. I'm just over the moon when a romantic comedy is only 1/2 flawed.
That said, I would order these differently, but they are obviously ordering in terms of influence and how ground-breaking they were when new. The AFI lists tend to use those criteria.
I want to write so much about this but I seriously have to go pack folks. lol Later. Real soon. I promise.
PS Leen, for real, start with Philadelphia Story. Also, although I love both Meg Ryan movies on the list; my favorite of hers is You've Got Mail. Although the critics will complain that certain aspects of that movie are flawed, and they may be right, I love it for 5 very particular reasons.
The chemistry between Hanks and Ryan is amazing, the soundtrack is awesome, the theme about new taking over old is heartbreaking. Then the top 2 reasons: it is about building relationships over the internet, which I have always believed is soooo possible-duh :-), and it is Pride and Prejudice in very clever dress. Although I never heard any reviewer say that, P&P being my favorite book ever, Elizabeth my favorite heroine ever, and Mr.Darcy my favorite hero ever, they can't fool me. These two are Elizabeth and Darcy reincarnated, and even the plot machinations follow P&P to some extent.
Nighty, night, sleep tight :-)
Nadya,
ReplyDeleteI almost threw Philadelphia Story up there! I love that movie!
Leen,
I knew it! LOL! Yes the end with the shirts was incredibly heartbreaking. That movie had such depth, the acting was terrific, the men were terrific to look at, and the whole story just ached. Sigh.
Yes Philadephia Story is an absolute MUST SEE.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I watch these AFI specials and wonder who really compiles these list. I am also chiming in as a HUGE Love Actually fan. I believe I have seen it four times and love it every time. The scenes with Colin Firth and his Portugese housekeeper are so perfect.
I put this in my own blog many months ago - and I meant it at the time but I thought I would be unable to watch Love Actually again. The scene where Liam Neeson is eulogizing his wife tears me to pieces. Knowing that he had to do this for real earlier this year just made it impossible for me to watch that scene. That said when he plays the song for his late wife that makes me smile.
I felt much the same watching Brokeback Mountain for the first time after Heath Ledger had passed away -- made me mourn his passing even more but I also appreciated the movie even more. Another favourite movie of mine that wouldn't make a romantic comedy list but it was important to me was Knights Tale - it was a turning point movie during the depths of my grief - I loved the way the movie was filmed, the humour, the pagentry and as much as I didn't care for the love story (female was a demanding biotch) I loved watching Heath Ledger -- he is a huge loss.
I think I need to rewatch Annie Hall - only time I have seen it was in the theatre when it was first released and when they played clips I forgot how much I enjoyed it.
Joanne
Joanne,
ReplyDeleteI liked Annie Hall as well! Such an interesting movie! (Jim, I too love Scarlett Johanson - from another post, she has been tremendous in some of Woody's films as well.)
Knights Tale is a great movie! The reparte with the men in the band is classic. LOVE Chaucer. Yes the love story was a bit obnoxious. She was cute though.
Yes Love Actually was so sad at that part. Even more so for poor Liam right now. I would love to rewatch that movie tonight. I need to buy it. It was also sad with the Kiera Knightley character and the friend that was in love with her. I LOVED Hugh Grant in that movie though. His Prime Minister role, and the crazy girl he loves, and then how he stands up to Billy Bob... AWESOME! LOL
These are all wonderful movies. I would like to add one more, although it is not a conventional love story: "Under The Tuscan Sun".
ReplyDeleteM.
Great add M!
ReplyDeleteNadya,
ReplyDeleteI love "You've Got Mail" more than I can even tell you! I agree; it should have made the list. Pride and Prejudice is also one of my favorite books. I, too, notice the connections.
Elizabeth and Darcy reincarnated.
Absolutely!
I think the majority of us are fans of "Pride and Prejudice", the book and the various movies that have been made.
ReplyDeleteWho was it who recommended "Bride and Prejudice", the Bollywood movie? Was it you, Jim and Nadya? I laughed when I read that, as I enjoyed that movie immensely, especially since it tied in with my ex-Bollywood movie star mother's world!
M.
M, it was I who mentioned Bride and Prejudice in response to Jim's recommendation of Lost in Austen. Have you seen that one yet? It's a british production... :)
ReplyDeleteI watched it twice in the last week and have since been in a daydream state that encompasses myself as Bridget Jones incarnated as an interior designer, traveling back and forth in time between modern and Georgian London, hauling antiques back to furnish the Prince of Pemberly's Palace, now occupied by a cross between Colin Firth and hmmm...Kipton? Maybe Juan would be more apt. I wish I knew a Bollywood Mr. Darcy equivalent.
Do tell about your mother's movie star life! It makes me remember a restaurant owner I met in Hong Kong, whose mother had been a star in pre-communist Shanghai movies. He had the most beautiful black and white photos of her on screen sets, framed and displayed around the walls. Ah, happy times.
So speaking of British Bollywood... and love stories... what about Slumdog Millionaire?
I still haven't made the effort to compose a list, but I adore pretty much all the Merchant Ivory films. And how about Tess of the D'ubervilles and Far From the Maddening Crowd. Not romantic comedies I know.
Nadya - You said you were a Jimmy Stewart fan. One of my all time favorites is Rear Window, by Alfred Hitchcock and with Grace Kelly as the romantic heroin. Love anything with Cary Grant or Gary Cooper too.
Like Elizabeth Bennett in Lost In Austen, I may have been born out of my time. But which time exactly was it?
A
You've Got Mail is killer. It's really all about the dog, Brinkley. Sooooo cute!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, look at all the P&P love here! Ready for something absurd: "The Impact of Propriety in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice". Yep, 11th grade research paper. How much did I hate Mr. Darcy. How much did I love him. :)
Some of my faves:
1) Pretty Woman
2) The Jane Austen Book Club (ohhh, Grigg)
3) While You Were Sleeping
4) 27 Dresses
I'll make a new thread about more recent romcoms.
Ann will this actor do as a Bollywood Mr Darcy?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.collider.com/uploads/imageGallery/Sendhil_Ramamurthy/sendhil_ramamurthy_image.jpg
Hope this works - can't do the hyperlink in comments. I know I adore seeing him on screen (we watch Heros - don't judge LOL - my son got me hooked the brat!!)
Joanne, I can see you are a girl after my own heart. Yes he would do very nicely indeed, thank you very much!
ReplyDeleteWhat is Hero's? Pardon moi.