“Love means never having to say you’re sorry” – Oliver Barrett IV (Ryan O’Neal)

“I wish I knew how to quit you” – Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal)

I’m a hopeful romantic. I believe in love at first sight. And I think there’s someone out there in the world for everyone. So it’s only fitting that my first article for Q Netwerk celebrates great love stories on the silver screen. I’ve never seen the 1970 box office hit, Love Story, starring Ryan O’Neal (back in his hunky prime) and Ali MacGraw as a young couple in love. I only know the film from the old Carol Burnett Show sketch with the comedienne playing Ali’s character, who’s dying of an incurable disease—the poor thing has a really bad cough as she lies there in bed, still looking as beautiful as ever. The movie is supposedly a serious, tragic drama, but obviously Ms. Burnett and company saw a bit of dark humor in it. Another tragic love story is, of course, 2005’s Brokeback Mountain, which every gay man on earth has probably seen. It’s a great film with wonderful, heartbreaking performances from Jake Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger. However, for my own personal list of favorite movie love stories, I tend to leantowards more upbeat tales with a happy, romantic ending—couples dancing or kissing or kissing while dancing. But occasionally there’s a film with a sad ending that deeply resonates with me—one that I can enjoy watching over and over and hope that this time they’ll end up together—but no one ever dies. They just go their separate ways. Sad but not tragic. I love Terms of Endearment and Steel Magnolias—but when it comes to a love story and you sit there watching a couple try to make a go of their relationship, the last thing I want to see is one of them ending up dead. Breaking up is hard to do, but death is just too permanent for me. So—without further ado—here are ten of my favorite love stories available on DVD for your viewing pleasure (listed in chronological order):

“A woman happily in love, she burns the soufflé. A woman unhappily in love, she forgets to turn on the oven.”

Sabrina (1954)

I adore Audrey Hepburn—as you will see as you continue to read. I just watched this wonderful flick again last weekend after many years, and I loved it more than ever. Ms. Hepburn plays Sabrina Fairchild, the chauffeur’s daughter who is hopelessly in love with a charming cad (played to comic perfection by the gorgeous William Holden), whose brother (Humphrey Bogart) finds himself falling for the girl. There’s just something about black-and-white cinematography that makes me go weak in the knees, and this film—directed by the legendary Billy Wilder—has me on the floor. All three of the leads are terrific—and be sure to watch for Grandma Walton (Ellen Corby) as Bogie’s secretary and The Beverly Hillbillies’ Miss Jane Hathaway (Nancy Kulp) as Jenny the maid. The DVD features an informative documentary on the film that reveals that Bogart was a last-minute replacement for Cary Grant, who dropped out one week before filming began. It’s so nice to see Bogie in a romantic comedy—wearing suits and tuxedos. And for those of you who enjoy a bit of Hollywood gossip, apparently Hepburn and Holden had an affair during the filming, but she dropped him upon learning that he’d had a vasectomy and couldn’t have children. A few months later she married Mel Ferrer, leaving Holden devastated. You will not find this tawdry information on the documentary—but Hepburn and Holden do make a very attractive couple. And Sabrina is definitely a film for lovers.

“That’s you, Sir.” “Who, Sir? Me, Sir?” “Yes, Sir. You, Sir.”

Houseboat (1958)

Sophia Loren. Cary Grant. What more do you want? This movie was one of my favorites as a child—and it still is today. Cary plays a widower with three children who hires Sophia as their governess. And they all live on a houseboat. Yes, this is what you call a light romantic comedy. But there’s one particular scene that elevates Houseboat into a very touching love story—at least for me. The two stars are dancing together as Sam Cooke sings the wonderful “Love Song from Houseboat (Almost in Your Arms)”, and as they gaze deeply into each other’s eyes, lost in their own little world of love, the onscreen chemistry between them will make your heart ache. The couple also sizzled off-screen as well, having had an affair during the filming of 1957’s The Pride and the Passion. Mr. Grant proposed marriage, but Ms. Loren chose to stay with her longtime love Carlo Ponti—but in Houseboat, you can see that they’re still very much in love. Then again, they’re both wonderful actors, so maybe their movie love is all for the camera. But being a romantic, I have to think otherwise. The only DVD features are the film’s theatrical trailer and a photo gallery, but if you’re looking for love, you can’t go wrong with this delightful flick.

“Do you care if I kiss you right here in front of God and everybody?”

A Summer Place (1959)

From the moment you first hear that lovely music, you know you’re in the right place for romance. Max Steiner’s “Theme from A Summer Place” became a big hit for Percy Faith, who recorded it in 1960, and for The Lettermen, who did a vocal version in 1965. This song will transport you to the Maine resort, where Sandra Dee falls head over heels for the gorgeous Troy Donahue (and who can blame her). Both these young actors are so beautiful, you can’t take your eyes off them. The story is a melodrama with Sandra’s mother (played by Constance Ford to bitch perfection) opposing her daughter’s romance. Do the lovebirds end up living happily ever after? My lips are sealed, but I fell for this flick hard and fast once that music began playing and Mr. Donahue started batting his incredible blue eyes at Miss Dee. Be still my heart. The only DVD extra is the theatrical trailer.

“Hand me my purse, will you, darling? A girl can’t read that sort of thing without her lipstick.”

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

Holly Golightly. I could just say those two words and call it a day, since they’re enough reason to highly recommend this classic film. Audrey Hepburn plays Holly, a free-spirited New York girl who becomes involved with the handsome George Peppard. It’s Ms. Hepburn’s best performance in my opinion. She grabs you from the first moment you see her–stepping out of that yellow cab in her long black evening gown, pearls and sunglasses and walking over to gaze in Tiffany’s windows while she eats her Danish pastry and drinks her cup of coffee. And this glorious opening scene wouldn’t be complete without Henry Mancini’s gorgeous instrumental of “Moon River”. Wow. What a way to begin a film—and you’re hopelessly hooked on Holly/Hepburn. And how can you not like a movie with characters named Sally Tomato and Mag “Timber!” Wildwood? The only blemish on Breakfast at Tiffany’s is Mickey Rooney’s ridiculous performance as Holly’s toothy Japanese neighbor, Mr. Yunioshi. It’s a shame he’s in the film because without him, it would be perfect. I own the barebones 2001 DVD (which only has the theatrical trailer as an extra), but a 45th anniversary special edition was released in 2006 with audio commentary by producer Richard Shepherd, a making-of featurette with interviews by director Blake Edwards and co-star Patricia Neal, a short tribute to Hepburn, and a brief history of Tiffany & Co. I think you’ll get a lot more bang for your buck with the most recent release, but even without all the nice extras, the movie itself is one to treasure for Audrey Hepburn’s lovely performance. And I’ve read that she hated pastries so that scene just goes to show you what kind of an amazing actress she was.

“I’m trying to get you all hot and bothered—and you’re summing up for the jury.”

Barefoot in the Park (1967)

Jane Fonda. Robert Redford. Young newlyweds in New York. I’m there—and loving every minute of it. Barefoot is another childhood favorite that has stood the test of time. It’s just as entertaining as it was when I first watched it over thirty years ago. Fonda and Redford make a delightful couple in love, and Mildred Natwick as Fonda’s mother steals every scene she is in. And Neil Simon’s screenplay (based on his hit Broadway play) keeps the laughs coming while making us care about young lawyer Paul Bratter and his carefree wife, Corie, who live in a very small apartment with an even smaller bedroom and five flights of stairs to climb (not counting “the big thing hanging outside the building, which may look like a stoop, but climbs like a flight”). Add in Neal Hefti’s wonderful musical score and you’ve got a movie to put a smile on your lover’s face. The only DVD extra is the theatrical trailer.

Tomorrow: Part Two

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Marc Harshbarger lives in Chicago with his partner and two spoiled cats, Shubert and Mr. Grant. His first novel, Deep Dish, was published last year. He is currently a staff writer for Q Netwerk and can be contacted at m.harshbarger@q-netwerk.com. You can find out more about Marc at www.myspace.com/deepdishdrama.

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