Decades of Love and Romance in Movies

Since the dawn of motion pictures, love and romance has been a theme in thousands of movies.  Whether it’s a swashbuckling daredevil or a screen vixen, the idea of finding and/or losing love has captivated audiences for nearly a century.  What are some of the romantic tales of love that the cinema has offered?

Audiences packed movie houses to see the black and white silent films of the 1920s.  While the decade brought 1920’s “Way Down East” starring Lillian Gish as Anna, a woman who is betrayed by Lennox (Lowell Sherman), most people remember the timeless Rudolph Valentino who appeared in such films as 1921’s “Camille” and “The Shiek”.  Valentino starred as Armand Duval in “Camille” which told the story of a woman (Alla Nazimova) who rebuffs Armand’s love at the insistence of his father (William Orlamond).  In “The Shiek”, Valentino starred in the title role as Shiek Ahmed Ben Hassan who falls for a socialite (Agnes Ayres).  Other movies during this decade include 1927’s “Sunrise” which was directed by F.W. Murnau (from “Nosferatu” fame) and told the story of a man (George O’Brien) who lives with his wife (Janet Gaynor) in the country until a woman from the city (Margaret Livingston) interferes and “Wings” which starred the legendary Clara Bow (whose film career faltered after the edition of sound to films) as Mary who’s in love with Jack (Buddy Rogers).  Will she be able to catch Jack’s attention even though he and David (Richard Arlen) have become fighter pilots in World War I?  “Sunrise” and “Wings” both garnered a Best Picture Oscar in 1929 as well as a Best Actress award for Janet Gaynor.

Although the 1930s brought sound and eventually Technicolor to feature films, it still had a unique blend of romance and doomed love.  The 1931 silent film “City Lights” starred the legendary Charlie Chaplin as The Tramp.  What happens when The Tramp befriends and falls in love with a blind woman (Virginia Cherrill)?  One of the icons of the era, Clark Gable, starred in a number of romantic films including 1934’s “It Happened One Night”.  Peter Warne (Gable), a sly reporter falls for a young socialite (Claudette Colbert) when she tries to escape from her family by running off to New York.  Gable and Colbert both received Best Acting Oscars and the film won for Best Picture.  Clark Gable also starred in 1935’s “China Seas” as Captain Gaskell who contends with his ex girlfriend (Jean Harlow) on a trip from Hong Kong to Singapore and as the infamous rogue Rhett Butler who tries to woo Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) in 1939’s “Gone With The Wind”.  1939 also brought “Wuthering Heights”.  Based on the book by Emily Bronte, the film told the tragic love of Heathcliff (Laurence Olivier) and Cathy (Merle Oberon).

World War II played a role in a number of romantic films in the 1940s.  Humphrey Bogart starred as Rick Blaine in the 1942’s “Casablanca”.  Content running a nightclub, things go askew when his love Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) shows up with Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid) and the German forces are closing in on them.  Bogart returned in 1944’s “To Have and Have Not”.  Based on the Ernest Hemingway story, the movie told of Harry Morgan (Bogart) and his partner Eddie (Walter Brennan) who tries to earn a living with their boat during World War II.  In the meantime, Harry has to deal with his relationship with Marie a.k.a. Slim (Laurne Bacall).  Other 1940s romantic favorites include 1940’s “Philadelphia Story” starring Cary Grant as Dexter Haven who’s determined to stop his ex (Katharine Hepburn) from marrying George Kittredge (John Howard) with the help of his partner (Jimmy Stewart).  Love doesn’t always go right as seen in the 1946 film “The Postman Always Rings Twice”.  The movie starred Lana Turner as Cora.  When her husband Nick (Cecil Kellaway) hires Frank (John Garfield), will Cora and Frank hatch a plan to get rid Nick?  In 1947’s “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” told the ghost of a scruffy sea captain (Rex Harrison) falls in love with a young widow (Gene Tierney) when she and her young daughter (Natalie Wood) move into his deserted house.

Love was in the air in the 1950s as well.  Vivien Leigh won her second Best Actress Oscar for her role as Blanche in 1951’s “A Streetcar Named Desire”.  When she has to leave town in shame, Blanche comes to live with her pregnant sister Stella (Kim Hunter) and husband Stanley (Marlon Brando).  Even though Stanley and Blanche are constantly at odds, Stanley’s friend Mitch (Karl Malden) falls for the strong willed woman.  The musical “Singing in the Rain” starred Gene Kelly and Jean Hagen as Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont.  Will Lina be able to make the cut when the duo’s films go from silent features to movies with sound?  1953 had two memorable romantic movies including “Roman Holiday” with Audrey Hepburn as Ann, a princess who wants to live normally and enjoy everyday experiences, and Gregory Peck as Joe Bradley, a reporter who’s after a story.  The second film, “From Here to Eternity” starred Montgomery Cliff, Donna Reed, Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr.  Prew (Cliff) and Warden (Lancaster) are serving in the Army right before Pearl Harbor.  Although it was remade in the 1990s, it was the 1954 version of “Sabrina” that captivated audiences.  David Larrabee (William Holden) is set to be married when the daughter of the family’s chauffeur (Audrey Hepburn) returns from France.  In order to avoid disaster, David’s older brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart) decides to woo Sabrina and ends up falling for her.

A number of romantic movies won the Oscar for Best Picture in the 1960s including “The Apartment”, “West Side Story”, “My Fair Lady” and “Sound of Music”.  1960’s “The Apartment” starred Jack Lemmon as Bud Baxter.  Trying to survive in the corporate world, Bud allows the company’s “higher ups” to use his apartment for various trysts.  During this time, however, he falls for Fran (Shirley MacLaine).  The musical “West Side Story” told of the story of rival gangs the Sharks and the Jets.  What will happen when Tony (Richard Beymer), the former leader of the Jets, falls in love with Maria (Natalie Wood), the sister of Bernardo (George Chakiris), the leader of the Sharks?  1964’s “My Fair Lady” starred Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Professor Higgins.  When Colonel Pickering (Wilfrid Hyde-White) comes to visit, the Professor insists he can transform Eliza, a simple flower girl, into a lady in upper crust society without anyone knowing the difference.  In 1965’s “Sound of Music”, Maria (Julie Andrews) leaves her life as a nun to become a governess for the unruly children of Captain von Trapp (Christopher Plummer).  The Captain falls in love with Maria and calls off his impending engagement.  With World War II at their back door, will the family live happily ever after?  The 1960s also brought “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Romeo and Juliet”.  Audrey Hepburn starred in 1961’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” as Holly Golighty.  Holly becomes enchanted by Paul (George Preppard), a writer who moves into her apartment building.  Shakespeare’s tale of forbidden love came to the big screen in 1968.  “Romeo and Juliet” starred Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey as the doomed lovers from opposing families.

The 1970s started off with “Love Story”.  Although Oliver (Ryan O’Neal) is disowned by his father because of the relationship, he falls in love with Jennifer (Ali McGraw) and the two marry.  After struggling to make the marriage work, however, tragedy strikes.  In 1971’s “Harold and Maude”, Bud Cort played Harold, a somber teenager who spends his time at funerals and planning mock suicides.  Things change when he meets Maude (Ruth Gordon) at a funeral.  Will their ages make a difference when Bud finds himself in love with her?  1973’s “The Way We Were” starred Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.  Although Katie (Streisand) and Hubbell (Redford) have differing political views, the two find themselves captivated by each other.  The popular musical “Grease” starred John Travolta as Danny and Olivia Newton-John as Sandy.  After a summer romance, the two find themselves attending the same high school.

There were plenty of romantic movies in the 1980s.  The often overlooked “Somewhere in Time” starred Jane Seymour as Elise and Christopher Reeve as Richard.  When Richard is smitten by a portrait at a swank hotel, he undergoes self-hypnosis to travel back in time to find the woman in the painting.  Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda returned to the silver screen and won Best Acting Oscars for 1981’s “On Golden Pond”.  An elderly married couple must deal with their estranged daughter (Jane Fonda) while developing a relationship with their grandson (Doug McKeon).  1982’s “An Officer and a Gentleman” told the story of Zack (Richard Gere) who finds love with Paula (Debra Winger) while trying to become an aviator in the Navy and dealing with the tough Sergeant Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.).  1987 was a good year for romantic movies with the release of “Moonstruck”, “The Princess Bride” and “Dirty Dancing”.  “Moonstruck” starred Cher as Loretta, a woman who decides to marry Johnny (Danny Aiello), a man she doesn’t really love.  That’s until she meets Johnny’s brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage).  Rob Reiner directed the popular fantasy movie “The Princess Bride”.  A grandfather (Peter Falk) tells his grandson (Fred Savage) a story of Westley (Cary Elwes) he must save his beloved Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright Penn) from the evil Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon).  “Dirty Dancing” told the story of Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze).  When her family vacations at a resort during the summer, Baby finds herself falling for Johnny, the resort’s dance instructor.  The 1980s ended with the 1989 classic “When Harry Met Sally”.  Although they are unlucky in their previous relationships, can Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Meg Ryan) fall in love while still remaining friends?

“Ghost” and “Pretty Woman” started off the 1990s.  “Ghost” starred Patrick Swayze as Sam.  When Sam is murdered, he enlists the help of Oda Mae (Whoopi Goldberg) to contact his true love, Molly (Demi Moore).  In “Pretty Woman”, successful businessman Edward (Richard Gere) hires Vivian (Julia Roberts) for the week.  Within the course of the week, the two find themselves falling in love.  Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan starred in the 1993 film “Sleepless in Seattle”.  When Sam’s (Hanks) son Jonah (Ross Malinger) calls a radio station to find someone for his father, Annie (Ryan) finds herself entranced although she’s currently seeing Walter (Bill Pullman).  1995’s “Bridges of Madison County” was directed by and starred Clint Eastwood.  Will housewife Francesca (Meryl Streep) find love with photographer Robert Kinkaid (Eastwood)?  One of the highest grossing movies of all time was 1997’s “Titanic”.  First class passenger, Rose (Kate Winslet), falls in love with steerage passenger Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) on the doomed ship.  “Shakespeare in Love” and “City of Angels” was released in 1998.  A young William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) finds himself falling in love with Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow) who is betrothed to Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) in the Academy Award winning “Shakespeare in Love”.  In “City of Angels”, Seth (Nicolas Cage), an angel, decides to give up everything for the love of Maggie (Meg Ryan).  The decade closed with 1999’s “Notting Hill”.  Love is in the air for Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), one of the world’s top movie stars, when she happens to walk into William Thacker’s (Hugh Grant) bookshop one day.

Although the first decade of the new millennium isn’t over quite yet, there is still a lot of love in the air!  “Pearl Harbor”, “America’s Sweethearts” and “Moulin Rouge” were released in 2001.  Rafe (Ben Affleck) and Danny (Josh Hartnett), best friends and fighter pilots, find themselves in love with Evelyn (Kate Beckinsale), an Army nurse in “Pearl Harbor”.  Catherine Zeta-Jones and John Cusack played Gwen and Eddie, one of Hollywood’s hottest couples in “America’s Sweethearts”.  It’s a publicist’s (Billy Crystal) nightmare when the pair splits and Eddie finds himself falling for Kiki (Julia Roberts), Gwen’s sister.  “Moulin Rouge” starred Nicole Kidman as Satine, a performer in the local hot spot and Ewan McGregor as Christian, a struggling writer.  Christian and Satine fall in love but will the powerful Duke (Richard Roxburgh) keep the lovers apart?  In 2002’s “Sweet Home Alabama”, Melanie (Reese Witherspoon) a fashion designer is engaged to Andrew (Patrick Dempsey) but there’s a hitch.  She’s still married to Jake (Josh Lucas) who lives in Alabama.  Love was timeless in 2004’s “The Notebook”.  The movie told of the eternal love of Noah (Ryan Gosling and James Garner) and Allie (Rachel McAdams and Gena Rowlands).  “The Upside of Anger” starred Kevin Costner as Denny, a baseball player turned D.J., whose neighbor is Terry (Joan Allen).  Terry has to deal with her teenage daughters while trying to find renewed interest in love after her husband leaves.

No matter what your preference in movies is, there are plenty of love and romance movies to be found in all genres.

What's your favorite romantic movie/love story?  Let us know in the forum!

Romantic Movies 

If you liked this article, be sure to check out The Notebook.

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© 2006 by Tammy Cordani.  To use the above content you must first obtain written permission.  Please contact Tammy Cordani.  All rights reserved.