Our Favorite Romantic Movies
by Ann McGuire
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Well movie fans, your votes are in. Over the last few months, The Romance Reader received dozens of e-mails listing nearly 700 of your favorite movies. Thanks to all of the readers who took the time to send us their favorites. There were close to 300 different titles, but a few did rise to the top as clear cut favorites. As you will see, there were some definite surprises!

THE ROMANCE READER'S TOP TEN LIST OF FAVORITE ROMANTIC MOVIES

1. EMMA - Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam in the 1996 adaptation of the Jane Austen favorite.

2. LADYHAWKE - Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Broderick and Rutger Hauer in a tale of love and sorcery set during the Dark Ages.

3. THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS - Daniel Day Lewis sets Madeline Stowe's heart aflutter as James Fenimore Cooper's hero Hawkeye.

4. WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING - Sandra Bullock finds love at the token booth with Bill Pullman and his whole family.

5. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE - Jane Austen's second top ten placement. This is the brilliant BBC/A&E adaptation with Colin Firth as the dangerously dashing Mr. Darcy.

6. SOMEWHERE IN TIME - The original time travel romance with Christopher Reeve and a never-been-more-beautiful Jane Seymour.

7. PRETTY WOMAN - Julia Roberts and Richard Gere find love, despite some pretty serious differences in their social positions.

8. WHEN HARRY MET SALLY - The romance for our times? Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan discover love begins with friendship.

9. CASABLANCA - Bogie and Bergman. 'Nuff said.

10. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE - Meg Ryan makes the list again, this time with Tom Hanks.

Surprised at some of the selections? I was. For all the complaining people do about today's movies being decidedly unromantic in comparison to "golden oldies," the only pre-80s film to make the list was CASABLANCA. Surprisingly, while GONE WITH THE WIND did garner a number of votes, it was by no means a stand-out favorite.

Big shock - how 'bout LADYHAWKE coming in a close second to EMMA. It's clear that this starkly imaginative film is a sleeper hit in the eyes of our readers. It was the initial leader in the competition, but was edged out in the end by a recent rush of EMMA fans (the majority of whom, without fail, couldn't help but comment on the romantic and gorgeous Jeremy Northam). Could it be that the recent resurgence in Jane Austen's popularity may account for the only non-theatrical release to make the list? PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has garnered a devout following, although there were also a number of fans of the earlier BBC production and the old Greer Garson/Laurence Olivier version.

Another overwhelming favorite was THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, with more than a few readers compelled to extol the virtues of Daniel Day Lewis' hair.

This exercise in individuality has proven one thing: everyone has their own definition of romance. Film titles including THE TERMINATOR and STAR WARS turned up, as did THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET and DARBY O'GILL AND THE LITTLE PEOPLE. Viva la difference!

Wondering what other films were clear favorites? Here's the back half of the list -- again, with some surprises.

THE PRINCESS BRIDE
BRAVEHEART
THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS AND DOGS
GHOST
THE CUTTING EDGE
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL
FRENCH KISS
THE BIG EASY
BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS
ROMANCING THE STONE

And for your next assignment? We've had a number of readers ask about a list of Favorite Movie Hunks. Anyone interested? Send us your Favorite Movie Hunk and the role that inspired him. (Or you.)

--Ann McGuire
September 8, 1997

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