We list five of our favourite classic romantic movies that navigated through the hearts of many generations and still give us butterflies.
By Aishwarya Tyagi
An Affair to Remember, 1957
“I was looking up… it was the nearest thing to heaven! You were there…”
The tear-jerking romance of Nickie and Terry; two strangers on their way to meet their respective fiancé’s in New York City, who inevitably end up falling hopelessly in love with each other. The star-crossed lovers decide to meet atop the Empire State building in six months − crafting one of the most iconic legends of cinematic romance.
Casablanca, 1942
“We’ll always have Paris”
There isn’t anything we could say that hasn’t been said about this timeless classic. Set in Morocco during World War II, a cynical expat Rick reunites a former lover Ilsa. Though the circumstances are not in favour, but they’ll always have the cherished memory of undying love to live by. The unforgettable performances of Humphrey Bogart is Rick and Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa in roles that are archetypes in film lore, still overwhelm us every time we hear As Time Goes By…
Now, Voyager, 1942
“Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars”
A classic movie depicting the dilemma and tragedy of an unfulfilled love story as Bette Davis plays the protagonist Casey Robinson who takes us on a journey across South America while showcasing emotional maturity with the decision of moving on from the love of her life who is married to someone else. Based on Olive Higgins Prouty’s 1941 novel, the movie is an emotional roller coaster that deals with real emotions of motherhood, marriage, and romance.
The Shop Around the Corner, 1940
“I found myself looking at you again and again, I just couldn’t take my eyes off you”
The celebrated love story has been remade and renovated many a times like Tom Hank and Meg Ryan’s 1998 classic You’ve Got Mail, originally being taken from Miklós László’s 1936 play, about the only thing that remains consistent across the various versions – finding love in a hopeless place. The emotionally complex romantic comedy of two rivals finding true love as secret pen pals still remains a warm visual treat set in a snowy winter.
Holiday, 1938
“You don’t know how a girl in love feels”
Starring two the greatest actors in cinematic romance – Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant and derived from Philip Barry’s 1928 stage comedy, the movie is a journey through the complexities of the human nature and the dilemma of a young Grant who plays a free spirited Johnny Case, a self-made man who wrestles with whether or not he should marry into the privileged trappings of millionaire heiress Doris Nolan’s Julia Seton. Enter, Linda, played by Hepburn as the more insecure and vulnerable elder sister of the possible bride. The playful romance unfolds with many layers of emotions and stands as one of the most optimistic spectacles of love.
