A while back I shared with you my favorite romantic movie. Honestly, I have a very hard time even remembering movies once I’ve seen them (don’t have this trouble with books, oddly enough!), so as I wrote that blog post, my mind stayed with pretty recent releases. I’m not much of an older-movie kind of girl, but as I was thinking later — and as I read some of the comments on that blog post — I realized there were a whole lot of older movies that I’d either forgotten about or had never seen.
Since it’s summer, and supposedly we all have this thing called “free time,” I thought it would be fun to revisit that topic but keep it to old movies. Black and white classics. Or early technicolor. Let’s say no movie before 1970. What are your favorites that have romance in them?
Mine would have to be Rear Window. Yes, I know — a Hitchcock movie! But it’s not like Psycho or The Birds. It’s one of his good, suspense movies. And it has a pretty strong romance in it too between Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. Have you seen it?
Another favorite would be Brigadoon. Any Brigadoon lovers out there? Gene Kelly? Cyd Charisse? Van Johnson? I tell you, I’m half-tempted right now to watch this just to get a reaction from my teenage son! (He would not be a fan.) This one is a true romance, almost a time-travel romance but not quite. If you love musicals, you’ll be all over this one. How can you not love Gene Kelly’s voice?
I’m sure some of you will say your favorites are classics like Gone with the Wind or The Sound of Music or … See how clueless I am when it comes to old movies? Give me some really great romances to watch, friends! Which ones do you just love?
Sally Bradley writes big-city fiction with real issues and real hope. A Chicagoan since age five, Sally has been fascinated by all things Chicago (except for crime, politics, and traffic) for almost as long. She now lives in the Kansas City area with her family, but they get back to Chicago for important things -- like good pizza and a White Sox game. A freelance-fiction editor and former president of her writing chapter, Sally has won a handful of awards for Kept and another work-in-progress. Visit her online at sallybradley.com or on Facebook.
Hahaha, I remember watching Brigadoon with my best friend when we were teenagers. Her mum LOVED it, and any Doris Day movie, so we would watch those instead of movies that our friends were watching. Calamity Jane, On Moonlight Bay, Oklahoma, By the Light of the Silvery Moon, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (not Doris Day but fun:) all feature in movie night memories. Katherine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn movies too…
I never get tired of watching Gone With the Wind, Sally. Also, An Affair to Remember and Rebel Without a Cause are on my top ten…if I only had the time to watch them again.
Sally, I am not a person who enjoys watching old old movies, even though my father enjoyed the old musicals. I am more the Hallmark romantic movie gal. But if I were to watch an older movie it would be a musical like “Dancing in the Rain (1952)” with Gene Kelly. I also enjoy Katherine Hepburn’s movie “African Queen”. According to some websites listing older romantic movies, one that I only associate with Christmas is “The Miracle on 34th Street (1947)”.
Oh so many…Desk Set is absolutely my favorite, but I also like Pillow Talk (Doris Day and Rock Hudson). Or The Major and the Minor (Ginger Rogers). I could go on…but I love watching TCM.
I love any Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair movies! And I really like Mclintock(John Wayne) and Hatari(also John Wayne). Oh, and The Parent Trap with Haley Mills.
I was a big fan of Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, and young Shirley Temple while growing up. I loved old musicals from a very early age, in particular those with tap dancing. My favorites (in no particular order) being Singin’ in the rain and My Fair Lady, but also non-musicals like The Little Princess, Sabrina, and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Sally, Rear Window is my favorite Alfred Hitchcock movie ever. I adore Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in that movie. It is a movie that my whole family enjoys watching. It has suspense and romance and quite a bit of humor too. Thanks for sharing!!
Wemble, I’ve never seen 7 Brides! Must fix that. :)
That’s the thing! Watch a movie/write a book. Which one???
Renate, I hear you! I just don’t watch old movies either. I have seen the first two you mentioned, though. Never seen Miracle.
I’ve never even heard of Desk Set. I’ll have to check that out. Thank you!
I was wondering who would bring John Wayne into this. :) It’s been a looong time since I’ve seen The Parent Trap.
My Fair Lady is wonderful! I’d forgotten about that one. I’ve seen Singin’ in the Rain–do like that one–but the others I’ve never seen. Thanks for the list!
Isn’t it awesome, Dana? I adore it! (Except for cheesy special effects at the end.)
Seven Brides is one of my sister and I’s absolute favorites. (My poor Dad has it mostly memorized by now). Another favorite is Charades with Carey Grant and Audrey Hepburn. And Swiss Family Robinson.
I was going to say, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers! I love that movie!
OH, these all bring back fond memories of watching them when I was younger.
I love all of the ones shared but no one mentioned any of the , “Tammy” movies or “Oklahoma” yet my favorite (besides 7Brides) has to be “South Pacific!”
I loved the Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald musicals from the 30’s.
I used to sit up with my Uncle when I visited my Grandma, to watch Jack Parr and Steve Allen. Afterwards the old musicals would come on TV.
Brigadoon became one of my favorites after seeing it performed at the Muny Opera in St. Louis by a husband/wife team when I was a teen. I even referred to it in one of my books, as the story is one that will not let me go!
As to romantic movies, mine are oldies but not THAT old – Murphy’s Romance, Crossing Delancey, Love Affair (a remake of the 1939 movie but with another husband/wife team), Sleepless in Seattle, Pretty Woman, It Could Happen to You. Sigh … sorry for not following directions!
Lady and the Tramp, King and I, Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,Guys and Dolls, Gigi, South Pacific, The Pajama Game, Three Coins in a Fountain, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Parent Trap, Bikini Beach, The Rat Race, Gidget Goes Hawaiian ( Any of the Gidget movies), Tammy and the Doctor. Someone already mentioned Miracle on 34th Street. Love that movie.
Swiss Family Robinson! Yes! Wow, haven’t seen that in years and years. I bet my daughter would like that one. Haven’t seen Charades though. Adding it to the list…
I’ve seen bits of South Pacific. Not the whole thing though. Might have to fix that!
Linda I’ve not heard of Eddy and McDonald! Musicals from the 30’s could be a lot of fun. Thanks!
LOL, Diane! No worries. :)
I have never seen Breakfast at Tiffany’s! Awful, I know.
Thank you all for the recommendations! If I get no more writing done this summer, you’ll know why. :D