This topic aired on Salon Saturday on January 27. While the inspiration was Valentine’s Day, these movies are popular year round. Being a sommelier I love pairing movies with wine and spirits and the choices here are available most places and I recommend all of them.
Unlike dramedy, a romantic movie is not supposed to be a downer. Unless you don’t believe in love, in which case I have some other choices for you. A number of musicals also spring up in this category, but we’re going light on them here.
I’m not going too far back, because you’ll want to be able to stream it, right? Unless you have a stash of Romantic DVDs as backup. I always plan for that to avoid a downed Internet. And that is a supreme downer.
Warning! These will include Rom-Coms, so if laughing isn’t your thing, you’re in big trouble and your date probably knows it. If you were looking for sad and sob-laden movies you should have listened to our previous show on dramedy. I previously covered romance novels, and many were turned into movies. In fact all of Austen’s works have generated several films. I’ll need to conclude this list next week since we’d run out of time otherwise.
We’ll begin by returning to the Globe theatre, London 1597 to see Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, a play of star-crossed lovers, which has morphed into two ballets by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev and several movies. OK, we can’t go back in time so here are two very different but modern interpretations of the Bard you’re sure to enjoy.
West Side Story (1961): Dir Jerome Robbins & Robert Wise, Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, George Chikaris
Two youngsters from rival New York City gangs fall in love, but tensions between their respective friends build toward tragedy. The musical on Broadway was all sold-out performances so a film was inevitable. Based on Romeo & Juliet and with a great film score by Leonard Bernstein and great choreography by Robbins, this film is as timeless as the Broadway musical.
Romeo and Juliet (1968): Dir Franco Zeffirelli, Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey
Stunningly mounted in Italy with two unknown actors in the key roles, this is reputed to be the best adaptation of the original play. Other than that, any current version of the ballet by either Russian composer is sure to set your heart aflutter.
After those obvious choices we chronologically cover good Valentines’ Day movies, which have to be about love, but don’t have to be on Valentines’ Day.
Casablanca (1942): Dir Michael Curtiz, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains
A cynical expatriate American cafe owner struggles to decide whether or not to help his former lover and her fugitive husband escape the Nazis in French Morocco. No, the brothers Epstein did not know they were writing one of the greatest movies of all time. In fact who was really getting on the plane with Ilsa wasn’t decided until the scene was shot. Ebert suggests that Bergman, not knowing how it would end, was a key to her performance; torn between two men she loved. So here’s looking at you kid.
The choice is right there on the screen; Mumm’s Cordon Rouge champagne, a great early product-placement rift and unlike Rick, we don’t plan to water our garden with it if the Germans come along.
Roman Holiday (1953): Dir William Wyler, Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn
A bored and sheltered princess escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman in Rome. This was Audrey’s film from start to finish and she won the best actress Oscar as well. Everyone in Hollywood was blown away by this elegant newcomer who captured everyone’s hearts.
Since we’re in Rome a Prosecco is called for, but no ordinary DOC. As I mentioned before, we need a Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Prosecco like Borrasca Prosecco DOCG at Total Wine $16.99, this is heavenly Prosecco.
A Room With A View (1985): Dir James Ivory, Helena Bonham Carter, Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott
Lucy Honeychurch (Carter) shares a brief romance with George Emerson in Florence. Yet as she tries to move on with her life and look for marriage elsewhere, can she truly forget the events of that summer? Julian Sands is the intense, young Emerson, in love with Lucy. The pacing of any Merchant-Ivory production is never rapid, but always purposeful.
“A Room with a View enjoys its storytelling so much that I enjoyed the very process of it. The story moved slowly, it seemed, for the same reason you try to make ice cream last: because it’s so good.” Roger Ebert
I think a good Brunello di Montalcino and Florence’s cheeses and bread would pair wonderfully with this movie. This Sangiovese-based red is grown in selected areas of the hill town of Montalcino.
Dirty Dancing (1987): Dir Emile Ardolino, Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach
Spending the summer at a Catskills resort with her family, Frances “Baby” Houseman falls in love with the camp’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle. Of course she would, it’s Patrick Swayze, and no woman could resist that smile.
The soundtrack will put anyone in a romantic mood: ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow?’, ‘You Don’t Own Me, ‘Love Is Strange’, ‘Cry to Me’, ‘These Arms of Mine’, ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’, ‘Hey Baby’, ‘Hungry Eyes’, ‘Stay’, ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’, ‘Love Man’ and ‘Be My Baby’. Talk about stacking the deck for romance.
After all that sweaty dancing I’m thinking a La Cumbre Malpais Stout to replace all those lost fluids.
The Princess Bride (1987): Dir Rob Reiner, Robin Wright, Cary Elwes, Mandy Patintin
A bedridden boy’s grandfather reads him the story of a farm-boy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love. Based on that synopsis you would be forgiven for not knowing what kind of the movie this was.
It’s nearly in a class by itself; it is a fantasy, beginning with Peter Faulk narrating a tale, but in a skewed and satirical way. A much loved and timeless movie, it deserves several retellings.
I think a tequila sunrise would be perfect here. The fanciful sunrise in the glass, the earthy flavor of a Reposado. And you get your vitamin C.
Moonstruck (1987): Dir Norman Jewison, Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis
Loretta Castorini, a bookkeeper from Brooklyn, New York, finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she has agreed to marry. “Nicky, snap out of it” even followed Cher to the podium for her best actress Oscar, and a supporting one for Dukakis. And in the background was Rosemary Clooney singing, “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore.”
I’m going with Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, 2018 is a good vintage to seek out for a wine of Brunello quality at a lower price. Spend the rest on the pizza.
When Harry Met Sally (1989): Dir Rob Reiner, Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher
Harry and Sally have known each other for years, and are very good friends, but they fear sex would ruin the friendship. The, “I’ll have what she’s having,” line was uttered by Reiner’s Mom. And just about everybody else who’s seen the movie. Ebert thought the fake orgasm was unrealistic in a restaurant. Right, it only makes sense in the bedroom!
“Due in large part to the success of Harry and the following year’s Pretty Woman, the ’90s have had more high-profile romantic comedies than any decade since the ’50s.” – James Berardinelli
And this, “Nearly ten years after first reaching American screens, When Harry Met Sally still holds up remarkably well. That really shouldn’t be a surprise, however, since a good romance is timeless.” – James Berardinelli
Domaine Carneros Brut Rose Carneros, 12% ABV is a blend of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% chardonnay, which is elegant and subtle with fine, lasting bubbles and notes of grilled nectarine, strawberry tart, shortbread and amoretti cookies. In fact a side of amoretti cookies sounds good to me.
Say Anything (1989): Dir Cameron Crowe, John Cusack, Ione Skye, John Mahoney
A noble underachiever and a beautiful valedictorian fall in love the summer before she goes off to college. And that synopsis does not begin to suggest how special this movie is between Cusack and Skye and her well-meaning Dad.
“Say Anything is one of those rare movies that has something to teach us about life. It doesn’t have a “lesson” or a “message,” but it observes its moral choices so carefully that it helps us see our own. That such intelligence could be contained in a movie that is simultaneously so funny and so entertaining is some kind of a miracle. Roger Ebert
For this we need the Duck Pond natural path Pinot Gris 2022, 12% ABV, $16. This Pinot Gris displays a pale straw color with crystal clear brightness in the glass. Aromas of key lime, pear, kiwi, and honeysuckle mingle with hints of fresh-baked brioche and lemon migraine. And the label tells all, or say anything if you wish.
Pretty Woman (1990): Gary Marshall, Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Jason Alexander
A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets… only to fall in love. It seems improbable, but the on-screen chemistry between Gere and Roberts sold this movie and it became a blockbuster hit.
If you really want to impress your pretty woman how about a 2016 Edward Lewis “Pretty Woman” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon rated 97 points by Jeb Dunnuck.
“This 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon includes 5% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot and spent 20 months in 90% new oak. This full-bodied effort offers a sexy, ripe, layered style that still has considerable purity and elegance.”
Ghost (1990): Dir Jerry Zucker, Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore, Whoopi Goldberg
After a young man is murdered, his spirit stays behind to warn his lover of impending danger, with the help of a reluctant psychic. Goldberg provides comic relief, Swayze charms and Moore represents the loss of love dramatically. A tearjerker it is, but with a sweet redemption few movies could have pulled off. Oscars went to screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin and Goldberg for best supporting actress, nominated for best picture and film score, Maurice Jarre.
If you want to really enhance the ghostly atmosphere, you’ll need a smoked cocktail recipe. The Smoky Manhattan uses Bourbon, sweet Vermouth, orange bitters and Maraschino syrup and a cinnamon stick, lit to create the smoke.
- Start by carefully lighting the end of your cinnamon stick, allowing it to burn a little so that it creates smoke.
- Blow out the flame and place it on a heat-proof plate, covering it with an upside-down cocktail glass. Leave this to infuse the smoke into your glass while mixing your drink.
Viola, instant mood-lifter activated.
Next week I cover romantic movies and pairings up to the present.
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