DinoJim - The 100 Greatest Romances

The 100 Greatest Romances

1. Casablanca (1942)

Also on the Greatest (2), 10th Anniversary (3), Thriller (37), and Inspirational (32) Lists - Definitely worth its place as number 2. A great movie that was not a romance as I thought it would be, being more like an anti-romance taking place during WWII. I was hesitant to watch this movie at first but afterwards I will recommend this to anyone. The main plot is about 2 people trying to escape German occupied Morocco to the US. The dialogue is very strong and it contains several underlying plotlines not immediately noticeable. It very easily drags you into the movie.

2. Gone With the Wind (1939)

Also on the Greatest (4), 10th Anniversary (6), and Inspirational (43) Lists - The classic itself, if not one of the longest movies on the list. The romantic movie of the Civil War era, if any others were even made. Considered by many to be the best romance of all time. The story consists of a love quadrangle that contains the horrors of war as it's backdrop. A must watch for anyone, and one of my wife's favorites.

3. West Side Story (1961)

Also on the Greatest (41), 10th Anniversary (51), and Musical (2) Lists - The musical based on Romeo and Juliet set in "modern" day New York. Very good catchy music and great acting. It really shows the grittiness of New York at times. Although I question whether gangs in NYC really know all the moves in choreographed dances.

4. Roman Holiday (1953)

5. An Affair to Remember (1957)

6. The Way We Were (1973)

7. Doctor Zhivago (1965)

Also on the Greatest (39) List -

8. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Also on the Greatest (11), 10th Anniversary (20), and Inspirational (1) Lists - The classic about a man who feels his life is in the dumps and then a miracle grants him his wish of never being born and shows to him how much of an impact he has had. The epitome of the idiom "careful what you wish for." A little impractical at times, especially the view of the world without him, but uplifting and enjoyable non the less.

9. Love Story (1970)

I imagined this was going to be more of a "chick flick" then anything else but my wife vouched for it, so I watched it. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. It basically is a love story based on a couple, where one is eventually diagnosed with a terminal illness. It is touching and sad but still a very good movie.

10. City Lights (1931)

Also on the Comedy (38) and Inspirational (33) Lists -

11. Annie Hall (1977)

Also on the Greatest (31), 10th Anniversary (35), and Comedy (4) List - Woody Allen's best movie ever. The movie follows the relationship between a whiney city boy played by Allen and his girlfriend a country bumpkin (Keaton). Its told mostly in the first person perspective of Allen resulting in a very funny "real" type of movie. When your in a comedic type of mood, this would be a good movie to watch.

12. My Fair Lady (1964)

Also on the Greatest (91) and Musical (8) Lists - Based on the inspirational play Pygmalion that very few people have actually heard about. Its a very simple concept really, a highly educated linguist who can tell the difference between any accent ever is challenged to convert a street tramp into the belle of the ball. The problem starts when he starts to have feelings for her. Some very enjoyable songs, although not as well know as some other musicals, still sing-a-long worthy.

13. Out of Africa (1985)

14. The African Queen (1951)

Also on the Greatest (17), 10th Anniversary (65), and Inspirational (48) Lists - A rather fun movie about a rough around the edges man who saves a prim and proper girl. Eventually they sail down a river chasing after a German ship so that they can destroy it. Bogart plays the part of the rough guy perfectly and the match up of the two main characters is pure magic. The story seems to slow down a bit in the middle as they are just on a steamship in the river for most of the time but the movie works well with it.

15. Wuthering Heights (1939)

Also on the Greatest (73) List -

16. Singin' in the Rain (1952)

Also on the Greatest (10), 10th Anniversary (5), Comedy (16), and Musical (1) Lists - The top musical on the list. Rather strange at times it is very enjoyable and the music is definitely catchy. The plot follows a couple of vaudeville actors, where after the advent of movies with sound, her career is in jeopardy due to her shrill voice. For those of you whole love musicals you have probably have already seen this but if not, you should.

17. MoonStruck (1987)

Also on the Comedy (41) List -

18. Vertigo (1958)

Also on the Greatest (61), 10th Anniversary (9), and Thriller (18) Lists - Another of the Hitchcock movies on the list, this one focusing on a police detective's fear of heights. After a fellow officer is killed because he is frozen with fear John Ferguson (Stewart) retires from the force. Unfortunately he is then asked to follow his friends wife, who also dies because of his fear of heights. The best thing about the movie was the remarkable camera effects showing Ferguson's vertigo.

19. Ghost (1990)

This is one of those "modern" romances that everyone has seen at least part of the movie. That is because it is on almost all the time on one channel or another. Well I decided it was time to sit down and watch and I was pleasantly surprised. It is intensive, romantic, and humorous. The movie is basically a murder mystery where a guy is killed and he haunts his woman to try and figure out who killed him. Very good, a definite recommendation.

20. From Here to Eternity (1953)

Also on the Greatest (52) List - Personally, I feel this is among the great classics like Gone With the Wind and should be closer to the top of the list. The story is about the soldiers and families shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The story is about an army officer who is sent to a remote outpost because he refused to box for the army. The film is filled with tragic romances between the characters, culminating in the trademark scene of the movie where Lancaster and Kerr are rolling around the sand and kissing on the beach.

21. Pretty Woman (1990)

22. On Golden Pond (1981)

Also on the Inspirational (45) List -

23. Now, Voyager (1942)

24. King Kong (1933)

Also on the Greatest (24), 10th Anniversary (41), and Thriller (12) Lists - I started out watching this movie basing it on the recent Peter Jackson remake. The problem is that you need to take into consideration the time period. Currently the graphics of Kong would be downright laughable today, while back then they were cutting edge. The movie was very enjoyable though. Actually, Jackson's remake just seemed to be an extension of the movie, taking all the same parts and just putting in extra parts in between. That made the movie fly right by since I already knew basically what was going to happen. But it was still a good movie and groundbreaking at the time. The fight between Kong and the T-Rex was very well done and actually more violent than I was anticipating, especially since the meeting with the natives was far less violent then I would have thought. All in all, I would recommend seeing this one before the Peter Jackson movie, but an entertaining movie none the less.

25. When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

Also on the Comedy (23) List - The movie follows the 11 year romantic journey of 2 people, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. The acting is superb in the movie and the story line is perfect. Definitely a "chick flick" but one worthy of seeing by anyone.

26. The Lady Eve (1941)

Also on the Comedy (55) List -

27. The Sound of Music (1965)

Also on the Greatest (55), 10th Anniversary (40), Musical (4), and Inspirational (41) Lists - One of the most popular musicals of all time. It is based on the Von Trapp family who during WWII were eventually forced to leave their native Austria. The main plot of the movie follows a former nun who finds her true calling as a governess to the family and eventually melts the heart of the once stern father. This all occurs in lighthearted nature over several irritatingly get stuck in your head musical numbers. Obviously their situation was portrayed not as dire as it actually was but it is still an enjoyable movie.

28. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

29. An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)

Also on the Inspirational (68) List -

30. Swing Time (1936)

Also on the 10th Anniversary (90) List -

31. The King and I (1956)

Also on the Musical (11) List -

32. Dark Victory (1939)

Also on the Inspirational (72) List -

33. Camille (1937)

34. Beauty and the Beast (1991)

Also on the Musical (22) List - This is one of my favorite Disney movies and I think one of the best they have ever done in terms of quality and story line. The music is easily the best out of any of the movies and the story is fantastic and touching. A must see on any kid or kid at heart's list.

35. Gigi (1958)

36. Random Hearts (1942)

37. Titantic (1997)

Also on the 10th Anniversary (83) and Thriller (25) Lists -

38. It Happened One Night (1934)

Also on the Comedy (8) List -

39. An American in Paris (1951)

Also on the Greatest (68) and Musical (9) Lists - Overall An American in Paris is a good movie. The plot is easy to follow and intriguing, the dancing is phenomenal, and the singing is entertaining, but the musical portions seemed to have no connection to the plot of the movie. Maybe I am just jaded by modern day movies but the meaning for last 18 minutes completely eluded me. The very end also seemed to be a bit too good to be true. The story is basically an American painter (Gene Kelly) is in Paris and falls in love with a French girl (Leslie Caron) who happens to be engaged to another man. Like anyone would expect the French girl ends up with the American but for no apparent reason the man she was engaged to seems happy at the match. Not one of the best movies on the list and seemed to drag on at times.

40. Ninotchka (1939)

Also on the Comedy (52) List -

41. Funny Girl (1968)

Also on the Musical (16) List -

42. Anna Karenina (1935)

43. A Star is Born (1954)

Also on the Musical (7) List -

44. The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Also on the Greatest (51), 10th Anniversary (44), and Comedy (15) Lists - Staring the royalty of the big screen, Stewart, Grant and Hepburn, this is a quick witted romantic comedy. Some of the jokes are rather fast at times though, so if you are not paying attention you are likely to miss them. The story involves a love pentagon with Tracy Lord (Hepburn) about to get married and the national tabloid wanting a story on it. The tabloid sends in some reporters via Lord's ex-husband (Grant) who represents the fun rich while her fiancée represents the poor hardworking guy who just wants his name in the paper. Insert romance here and you have a classic that is as timeless now as it was then.

45. Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

This seems to me to be another in a long line of Meg Ryan romance movies. The plots always seem to be similar and nothing really stands out about most of them, except this one I seem to remember a bit more than most of them. The acting usually pretty good in all of them, just this one seems to have a better, more heart endearing plot. The other movies after this seem to be getting just a bit too much like a cliché. Overall a rather good movie to watch on a rainy afternoon.

46. To Catch a Thief (1955)

47. Splendor in the Grass (1961)

48. Last Tango in Paris (1972)

49. The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)

50. Shakespeare in Love (1998)

51. Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Also on the Greatest (97), 10th Anniversary (88), and Comedy (14) Lists -

52. The Graduate (1967)

Also on the Greatest (7), 10th Anniversary (17), and Comedy (9) Lists - The story of a man who just graduated from college and has his whole life in front of him and is not sure what to do now. This is a weird movie about how a man starts sleeping with a woman twice his age then is forbidden to ever see her daughter again. Enjoyable and funny, a must watch.

53. A Place in the Sun (1951)

54. Sabrina (1954)

55. Reds (1981)

56. The English Patient (1996)

57. Two for the Road (1967)

58. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Also on the Greatest (99) and Inspirational (35) Lists - And yet another movie on the list regarding tolerance and race relations. Though it has a pretty simple plot white girl brings black guy home to her overly protective parents in the strict 60's. What made this movie different was the simplicity with how they presented the subject. The male was a top of his class, handsome physician. In other words he is the perfect mate to make any parent proud to have as a son-in-law. The only problem, he's black. The movie is lighthearted at times with still the reality that her parents need to come grips with the fact that her daughter is in an interracial relationship.

59. Picnic (1955)

60. To Have and Have Not (1944)

61. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

I actually wanted to see this movie because all of the history that it seems to have. It is a very cute movie about a screen writer living next door to a socialite who does not have a real job. The acting is superb and the storyline is not as simple as one might think. A definite must watch and I feel it should be higher up on the list.

62. The Apartment (1960)

Also on the Greatest (93), 10th Anniversary (80), and Comedy (20) Lists -

63. Sunrise (1927)

Also on the 10th Anniversary (82) List -

64. Marty (1955)

65. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Also on the Greatest (27), 10th Anniversary (42), and Thriller (13) Lists - Starring Warren Beatty as Clyde and Faye Dunaway as Bonnie, this movie is a hit right at the start. The plot line is great, it follows two of the most infamous bank robbers in history from the beginning where Clyde is a car thief and Bonnie his hostage, to their end when they are both shot up. Kind of a romantic thriller with a dismal ending.

66. Manhattan (1979)

Also on the Comedy (46) List -

67. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

Also on the Greatest (45) and 10th Anniversary (47) Lists - Another fine work by Brando. The screenplay was written by Williams himself so you know its not going to be that bad figuring the play is one of the best ever written. It is based on a fragile former prostitute who visits her sister in New Orleans and is mercilessly taunted by her brother-in-law. A bit confusing at times but very well acted non the less.

68. What's Up, Doc? (1972)

Also on the Comedy (61) List -

69. Harold and Maude (1971)

Also on the Comedy (45) and Inspirational (89) Lists -

70. Sense and Sensibility (1995)

71. Way Down East (1920)

72. Roxanne (1987)

73. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)

74. Woman of the Year (1942)

Also on the Comedy (90) List -

75. The American President (1995)

76. The Quiet Man (1952)

77. The Awful Truth (1937)

Also on the Comedy (68) List -

78. Coming Home (1978)

79. Jezebel (1939)

80. The Sheik (1921)

81. The Goodbye Girl (1977)

82. Witness (1985)

83. Morocco (1930)

84. Double Indemnity (1944)

Also on the Greatest (38), 10th Anniversary (29), and Thriller (24) Lists -

85. Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955)

86. Notorious (1946)

Also on the Thriller (38) List -

87. The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988)

88. The Princess Bride (1987)

Personally I felt this should have been on the Comedy list more than on the Romance list. This is a very funny movie and pretty much has everything you need in a movie, romance, sword fights, etc. An adult fairytale set in the medieval period, it is about a princess whose betrothed is killed and then brought back to life. He then goes and tries to win back his love. If you are in the mood to be entertained this is the movie for you.

89. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

Also on the 10th Anniversary (67) List -

90. The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

First off I did not expect this ever popular "chick flick" to be about a torrid affair. Basically Eastwood comes strolling into town to take pictures of the bridges and ends up having a romance with a married woman. Don't get me wrong, the story line is excellent and the acting is good. I was just not expecting it.

91. Working Girl (1988)

Also on the Inspirational (87) List -

92. Porgy and Bess (1959)

93. Dirty Dancing (1987)

Ok, what do you think of when I mention 1980's movies? Patrick Swayze and Dirty Dancing? I thought so. This movie is so ingrained in 80's culture I thought it would be extremely cheesy and stupid. I was wrong and usually when a movie becomes iconic, it is for a reason and this is no exception. A rather enjoyable movie.

94. Body Heat (1981)

Also on the Thriller (92) List -

95. Lady and the Tramp (1955)

This is my second favorite Disney movie (after Dumbo) and I just absolutely love it. The music is romantic and fitting. The story line is sweet and tender. The perfect snuggle up and date movie.

96. Barefoot in the Park (1967)

97. Grease (1978)

Also on the Musical (20) List - Another iconic movie on the romance list. This is the 1970's musical. A very fun movie to watch and since everyone knows the words it's all the better.

98. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)

99. Pillow Talk (1959)

100. Jerry Maguire (1996)

I guess this would be one of the first of the modern romantic movies. I enjoyed it but I think it got a bit too much hype for itself. The acting I felt was a little over done at times but the romance was good and I guess that is why it is on the list.

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