One of the many movies I watched over my Christmas holidays was "Roman Holiday" with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. It was ranked #4 in the American Film Institute's list of greatest love stories. The movie was great until the last 10 minutes. She's a princess (the movie never says from where) on tour of Europe who gets bored with official duties and runs away to spend the day on her own in Rome. He's an American journalist who meets her late one night and at first, doesn't know who she is, but once he learns it, takes her around Rome and shows her a good time, all the while intending to get a story, but ends up falling in love with her. Well, at the end of the movie, she has him drop her off at the embassy- they have a typical 1950s passionate hug and kiss goodbye (think cheekc touching looking conveniently towards the camera), she gets out of the car. Next day, he goes to a press conference at the embassy, she comes out, answers questions, they share a look and a moment, she walks out, he stands there after all the other reporters have left the room, and then he walks out, pausing only long enough to look over his shoulder. End of movie.
Okay, how can this be considered such a great love story when they don't end up together? I was just looking around and in 7 of the AFI's top 10 movies from the list of greatest love stories, the two don't end up together. Maybe they should have done two separate lists- greatest love stories and greatest love stories with lame endings. But now I have to think what constitutes a great love story. What do you think are great love stories?
2 comments:
I think sometimes a good love story is one where they realize that it would never work so they don't end up together. After all, nothing is more romantic than unrequieted love.
I agree with you, shari. Its no fun if they don't end up together in my book. Except maybe Gone with the Wind, but Scarlett deserved that one.
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