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Falling in Love.... At the Movies!! (Catherine Mann)


I’m a sucker for a happily ever after when it comes to the books I read and the movies I watch. If I’m going to invest the time in reading or watching, I want a victorious ending. I recall going to one particular movie billed for the Valentine’s Day season. I braved snowy weather, ten degrees below zero, seven months pregnant to see Somersby. SPOILER ALERT: The hero dies by hanging at the end. Women throughout the movie theater gasped in horror – and anger. Where was the happily ever after we’d spent the past couple of hours watching the hero and heroine work earnestly toward achieving?

Keeping that in mind for this month's blog about falling in love, I made a list of some of my favorite romantic movies where the guy and gal absolutely ride off in the sunset together. So, in no particular order, here goes...

Quiet Man
(John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara)
One of my all time top movie picks! My husband and I watch this at least once a year, a classic romance with a wounded alpha hero and a magnificent Irish setting. How especially awesome it is to have a romance flick both my hubby and I enjoy.


50 First Dates
(Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore)
The way the hero loves the heroine in spite of her injury is magnificent. There’s no magic cure. Instead, their love makes them strong enough. I adore this movie! A comedy that can move you to emotional happy tears at the end – well done!

Sabrina
Which is your favorite? The Humphrey Bogart/Audrey Hepburn version? Or the Harrison Ford/Julia Ormond remake? I can’t decide. Guess I’ll have to watch both again!

When Harry Met Sally
(Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan)
Favorite line: “I’ll have what she’s having.” Need I say more? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you must watch this movie!

Lady & the Tramp
I was enchanted by this movie as a kid and it's endured for me through the years. I love dogs. I love a compelling “boy from the wrong side of the tracks” story. And of course, there's always “Belle Notte.”



The Princess Bride
(Cary Elwes and Robin Wright)
Favorite line: “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
Next favorite line: "Have fun stormin' the castle."
Okay, so those lines were spoken by a couple of other characters in the movie, but then sometimes a romance movie comes along where the secondary characters are mighty darn compelling too!

Top Gun
(Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis)
I saw this movie on my first date with my husband, an air force aviator. “Take My Breath Away” – you betcha!

Taming of the Shrew
(Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor)
My master’s thesis was on Shakespearean women and honestly, I could talk about the Bard’s works all day long. But as far as romances go, I have always thoroughly enjoyed watching Taming of the Shrew over and over again in different productions.

Officer & a Gentleman
(Richard Gere and Debra Winger)
Iconic military romance film! I still applaud when he carries her out of the factory! And being a military romance author and military spouse, I do adore a man in uniform.


Wedding Singer
(Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore)
This movie is plain ole fun, especially with all the eighties style humor. But the song he sings to her at the end, while funny, is so very touching for its simple message that resonates deep in the heart of someone in love. “I want to grow old with you.”

To hear the song, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1A_X8VMIqU
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What is your favorite romantic movie? One commenter will win an ARC for the next book in my "Elite Force" series, HOT ZONE, coming out in December from Sourcebooks Casablanca. The winner will be chosen at random on Friday, September 16, 2011.



I'll also include a copy of my next Harlequin Desire, BILLIONAIRE'S JET SET BABIES, on shelves this October!

Comments

  1. What an excellent grouping of memories--for that's what movies are if they're very good.

    I love the song! Thanks for the memories.

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  2. Hi Ashlyn! Thanks! So many great movies out there - I vow my list could change every day depending on my mood. :)

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  3. Great choices and Top Gun is my all-time favorite! I am a romantic at heart as well, so riding off in the sunset is something I just love! One of my other favorites, (tho' there is no happy ending really, is Night in Rodanthe, with Richard Gere. It spoke of deep connecting love and second chances..wish the ending was different. Keep up the great writing! Love you books!

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  4. I loved Sleepless in Seattle too!! Meg Ryan is a favorite!!

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  5. Hey there, Melody! I love Sleepless in Seattle too!!! Almost had that on the list and the one liner from When Harry Met Sally made me swap it at the last second. :) Thanks for stopping by the comment!

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  6. Love Actually and Notting Hill are 2 of mu all-time favorites:)

    Good reading ~ Escape by Fiction

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  7. Hi there! I adore the twists and turns in Love Actually, then the way it all pulls together at the end - what an artfully constructed movie!!

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  8. Love Top Gun! My son and his buddy were Goose and Maverick when they were in the Air Force.
    Have you seen Lucky Seven? It's one of my all time favorite romantic movies.

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  9. Love Princess Bride! I quote from it all the time!

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  10. I've seen all the movies you mentioned but the John Wayne movie so I'll have to check it out on Netflix, Catherine.
    If you haven't seen Jodhaa Akbar it is a heavenly romantic movie, very sensual, and beautiful, too. It's a love story set in India centries ago, but so worth watching if you can find it. I know Netflix has it.
    Amelia

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  11. Cheryl, you sound like our family - we love all the quotes from Princess Bride - so many great ones ("As you wish!) LOL!

    Carolyn and Amelia, thanks for the new movie ideas! I'll have to check them both out on Netflix. :)

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  12. You have some of my favorite romantic movies on your list. I'm not sure if I have a favorite. I've never seen the original version of Sabrina but love the remake. I'd add Bridget Jones and Notting Hill.

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  13. You have a great list and one of my all time favorites is Princess Bride for the romance, adventure and fun.

    One that may not be first in people's minds though is a film that explores all aspects of love including disappionted form. It is called Love Actually. I suppose that the reason it works for me is that it doesn't end on the sour note.

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  14. My newest favorite is The Proposal, with Sandra Bullock...Loved this movie....comedy romance...the best. I got to visit the little town this was filmed in, Rockport Mass. what a lovly Norman Rockwell sorta town....I loved it there. Can't wait to go back.
    My old time favorite movie is Casablanca...but only in Black and White.....gotta watch it that way always...
    I love all the ones meantioned here too...great choices

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  15. The Officer and the Gentleman and The Holiday is my favorite movies. Thanks for sharing your memories with us.

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  16. I love Sleepless in Seattle and Love Actually as well. I also love Philadelphia Story with Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Katharine Hepburn. I truly enjoy the Jane Austen movie adaptions(ok most of them).

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  17. I love movies with HEA - your list is the best.

    My favourite HEA couple are Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman in the movie Australia. What made it poignant for me was the little boy going off withhis grandfather.

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  18. Interesting.. I thought about the movie Australia. It was on cable this past weekend. I love the sweep of storyline.

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  19. I'm getting some cool movies to add to my Netflix list - haven't seen Australia, but I do adore Hugh Jackman. :)

    It's been a while since I've seen Notting Hill and Love Actually. It's fun to rewatch movies after a while has passed - like rediscovering it all over again!

    And yep, totally agree on The Holiday and The Proposal!!

    Thanks for all the wonderful comments, everyone. :)

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  20. I love "The Princess Bride." It's funny and romantic, the perfect combo. I think my favorite is Amelie. It's such a cute movie.

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  21. The Notebook is a romantic movie I really enjoyed. It evoked a lot of emotions from me, tear, joy, happiness. Plus I like the vivid setting and it was easy to imagine to put myself back in time. Also, you can't go wrong with romantic comedies such as a classic like Grease!

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  22. What a great list! I love every single one on there. My favorite is probably "Officer and a Gentleman". *dreamy* Oh and your cover is HOT. Love it. I'm posting the giveaway in cyberspace.

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  23. I loved Meg Ryan+Tom Hanks in You've got mail too! They were a great screen couple.

    An what about Romancing the Stone with Kathleen Turner & Michael Douglas?

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  24. Cathy, I actually love Somersby! What can I say I am a Richard Gere fan. It does make me cry and it is a love story, but a tragic one. I would have to say my favorite is Love Actually. I never get tired of watching it. I also like Hope Floats and Officer and a Gentleman. Good blog!

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  25. Anonymous is me, Mary from PA. I didn't put my name in!

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  26. Jane, thanks for the new movie to add to my list to watch - it's going to be a fun movie marathon weekend. :)

    Na - Grease! What a great one! Now I've got the songs running through my head, lol!

    Sara, thanks for the cover kudos - I'm VERY happy!

    Linda - Wow, can't believe I forgot to mention Romancing the Stone. Loooooove that movie!

    Mary - Hope Float, yep, really liked that one too. So many great romance movies out there to enjoy. :)

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  27. P.S. I Love You is one of my favorite romantic movies. He helps her to be able to cope and then to finally move on! I also love romantic comedies like The Ugly Truth, The Bounty Hunter (anything with Gerard Butler) The Back-up Plan. There are so many!

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  28. THE NOTEBOOK, PRIDE & PREJUDICE the one with Kiera Knightly, when he says: 'I love, I love, I love you!' melts my heart everytime!=)
    and.. BRIDGET JONES'S MOVIES! I ADORE THEM JUST 'CAUSE THEY GIVE ME HOPE ON LOVE EVERYIME! LOL!;)
    ANDMANY MORE, BUT I'D BE HERE ALL DAY.. LOL

    monika_restivow(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. Cathy,

    I've seen all the movies you mentioned except the Wedding Singer, I think you've hit the nail on the head but missed some of the oldies....Philadelphia Story and High Society (same story) show the everlasting effect of true love but you really missed An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. What a heartwarming story.

    That said, I LOVE Top Gun, Princess Bride and any Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan movie for modern true love tails.

    For cartoons, Tangled works.

    This is Nancy.

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  30. If you like the Taming of the Shrew and The Quiet Man, I'll recommend McLintock. It's a Western based on Taming of the Shrew that starred John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara among others.

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  31. Great list of movies. My favorite romantic movie is Dirty Dancing.
    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  32. Oh yeah, The Princess Bride and I loved The Prince of Persia!

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  33. Good morning! So cool to find more comments and movie suggestions!

    Susie - Gerard Butler - YUM!!!

    Monika - Isn't it interesting how a well delivered line can melt the heart. Reminds me of the, "You had me at hello."

    Nancy - Love old movie marathons!

    Virgnia E - We actually own a copy of McClintock. :) Hubby has a John Wayne collection.

    Crystal - Dirty Dancing was so close to being on my list. It was tough to narrow it down!

    Terry - Prince of Persia - haven't seen that one (adding to growing list!:)

    And OMG, how could I have left off TANGLED!?!?! That was our favorite movie this summer. I bought my niece the costume to wear when I took her to the movie! AWESOME movie!

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  34. Hi Catherine,
    Even though there is no HEA I always liked No Way Out with Kevin Costner. For a happy ending I vote for Dirty Dancing and Kate and Leopold - Hugh Jackman!!

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  35. This movie list put me in the mood for a movie marathon!! I watched Jerry Mcguire the other day with my hubby and we both cried!

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  36. Hm...I couldn't choose just one...so here are a few of my favorites: Notting Hill, Pretty Woman, EverAfter (Drew Barrymore!), Forrest Gump and his Jenny :o)) and a lot more ....

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  37. My favorite love story was the Top Gun. I loved that movie.But then Officer and the Gentleman,too! Richard Gere is one of my favorite actors. Hot Zone's cover is hot! love your books.

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  38. Great movies there. I movie I love is The Proposal. Love Sandra Bullock.
    Judy F

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  39. I love The Princess Bride! I have to add Gone with the Wind as my classic. For the most romantic Disney movie I vote for Mulan. For a romantic 80s classic, who doesn't love Somewhere in Time with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve? I agree with Love, Actually too. What a great topic.

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  40. Add a little humor, and one of my favs with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas "Romancing the Stone".

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  41. Congratulations to Judy F on winning the contest giveaway of an ARC for HOT ZONE and a copy of BILLIONAIRE'S JET SET BABIES!

    And many thanks to everyone for all the wonderful comments. I'm starting up my Netflix to start watching your awesome suggestions!

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