Some of the greatest movies in cinematic history are romantic in nature. From such classics as "Gone with the Wind" and "Casablanca" to the more recent romantic movies "Ghost," "Sleepless in Seattle," and "Pretty Woman," you can choose from a plethora of movies to move your heart and bring a tear to your eye. Whether you are passionate film buff or an aspiring director, you may have an interest in learning about the qualities of a quality romantic flick.
So what makes a romantic movie great? For one, they are loves stories that the viewer can relate to, something that they can use as a tool of catharsis. Secondly, they help shield the viewer from the harsh realities of the world, providing with an escape. These tales of the heart follow the emotional and passionate encounters between two main characters on a path of courtship. Love is a complicated affair, and this is reflected in the wide variety of themes that romantic movies cover: unrequited love, love at first site, spiritual love, tragic love, forbidden love, sexual love, and sacrificial love.
In 2002, the American Film Institute (AFI) released a list of the top 100 romantic movies, dubbed
100 Years … 100 Passions.” The top 10 is as follows:
- “Casablanca”
- “Gone with the Wind”
- “West Side Story”
- “Roman Holiday”
- “An Affair to Remember”
- “The Way We Were”
- “Doctor Zhivago”
- “It's a Wonderful Life”
- “Love Story”
- “City Lights”
The variety in this list reveals the various subgenres of romantic movies. This includes romantic dramas (“An Affair to Remember,” “Love Story”), which centers primarily on acts of love between the main characters, romantic comedies (“Roman Holiday,” “City Lights”), which are lighthearted in nature with humorous plot lines, romantic musicals (“West Side Story”), in which music is as much of an essential component to the movie as the plot and characters, and romantic thrillers (“Doctor Zhivago,” “Gone With the Wind”), in which elements of suspense and tension are intertwined with the love story.
So for you aspiring love story writers and film directors, do you want to take the next step in furthering your creative career? Online college classes and degree programs are great way to take this career step from the comforts of your own home. Perhaps after gaining the skills to make a great romantic movie, you will create a movie that will make a future AFI list of the top romantic movies.
Sources
American Film Institute (2002)
AMC Filmsite (2012)
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