# 100 Most Romantic Scenes in Movie History **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784 "2004-03-17T04:04:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nichol\_storm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Nichol\_storm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nichol_storm)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/1 "2004-03-17T04:04:52Z")
Let’s face it: inside of all of us is the soul of a hopeless romantic. And sometimes movies can touch that soul with tender words, longing looks, or special moments between characters. This thread is a celebration of those wonderful scenes that are part of what make movies truly magic. To kick it off, here’s my pick: #100: In 1986’s “Parting Glances”, Steve Buscemi’s character, Nick, asks his friend if he’s ever been in love. “Once,” his friend admits. “And then he died, right?” Nick asks cynically. “No,” says his friend, “he’s right here.” And then he points at Nick. Ah, l’amour. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/2 "2004-03-17T04:21:32Z")
#99 Rhett Butler grabbing Scarlett and carrying her up that grand stairway, into the darkness. Then, next morning, she’s stretching in bed and singing to herself. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/3 "2004-03-17T05:05:58Z")
Really a pair of scenes: “Play it, Sam.” ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/4 "2004-03-17T13:42:21Z")
#97, I guess. The parting of the two lovers in “Brief Encounter”. It’s difficult not to be moved since you know they will never see each other again. The couple realizes too that their lives will be all the poorer for it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/5 "2004-03-17T13:48:54Z")
#96 Most scenes in **Shakespeare in Love**. If forced to pick one, I’d pick the one in the boat. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/6 "2004-03-17T14:23:06Z")
**rjk** , don’t you mean #1 and #2? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/7 "2004-03-17T14:25:00Z")
I know all you purists are going to jump my shit about this, but the Barbra Streisand/Kris Kristofersen version of “A Star Is Born” is one of my cry-from-beginning-to-end movies. In particular, when he goes racing off in his car, listening to her tape…and then when she goes running into the next room, thinking he’s playing – and it turns out to be a tape. But the whole thing is romantic. (sniff!) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/8 "2004-03-17T14:38:26Z")
I like this scene from Sense and Sensibility Marianne (Kate Winslet) is recovering from her illness after her horrible end with Willoughby and she is sitting out on her lawn and Col. Brandon (Alan Rickman) is reading poetry to her. I don’t know, that scene gets me everytime. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/9 "2004-03-17T14:40:47Z")
#93 From Roman Holiday > [@](#): > > Reporter: And what, in the opinion of Your Highness, is the outlook for friendship among nations? > Princess Ann: I have every faith in it… as I have faith in relations between people. > Joe Bradley: May I say, speaking for my own… press service: we believe Your Highness’s faith will not be unjustified. > Princess Ann: I am so glad to hear you say it. > Another reporter: Which of the cities visited did Your Highness enjoy the most? > prompting > Princess Ann: Each, in its own way, was unforgettable. It would be difficult to-- Rome! By all means, Rome. I will cherish my visit here in memory as long as I live. ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/10 "2004-03-17T14:55:23Z")
**#92 Defending Your Life** Albert Brooks decides to run after the light rail cars to the afterlife ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/11 "2004-03-17T15:22:16Z")
#72 Frankie and Johnny The scene where Frankie and Johnny kiss in front of a truck. The movie has been very grey and miserable, these two sad people. They kiss and kiss and the back of the truck flies up and they are kissing in front of vibrant flowers. I love that scene. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/12 "2004-03-17T15:50:47Z")
John Cusak. Peter Gabreil. Boom box. ---
**Author:** ![SeGate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac8455/32.png) [@SeGate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeGate)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/13 "2004-03-17T16:07:18Z")
It may seem a bit corny, but the scene from _Singin’ In the Rain_ where Gene Kelly takes Debbie Reynolds to the empty soundstage because he can’t tell her how much he loves her without “the proper setting.” And then he sings, “You Were Meant for Me.” _sigh_ The best part of the whole thing is how he looks at her so intently. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/14 "2004-03-17T16:17:15Z")
> [@Nichol\_storm](#): > > #100: In 1986’s “Parting Glances”, Steve Buscemi’s character, Nick, asks his friend if he’s ever been in love. “Once,” his friend admits. > > “And then he died, right?” Nick asks cynically. “No,” says his friend, “he’s right here.” And then he points at Nick. > > Ah, l’amour. I want to see that movie. Now. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/15 "2004-03-17T16:19:58Z")
_When Harry Met Sally…_ The first New Year Eve scene, in the middle of the movie, where they are just friends. Harry has just shaved off his beard. They are dancing and Sally says it’s so nice to dance cheek to cheek with him now and rubs her cheek against his. Billy Crystal’s expression just makes my toes curl each and every time I see this. So full of unexpected longing, that he has to close his eyes. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/16 "2004-03-17T16:24:56Z")
> [@SeGate](#): > > The best part of the whole thing is how he looks at her so intently. Pretty much any scene from “Moulin Rouge” where Ewan McGregor is looking at Nicole Kidman, just for the wonderful look on his face. > [@Baker](#): > > Rhett Butler grabbing Scarlett and carrying her up that grand stairway, into the darkness. Then, next morning, she’s stretching in bed and singing to herself. Eeep, I always thought of this as a marital rape scene–all she needed was a good lay and she’s happy again. No offense, but not my idea of romantic. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/17 "2004-03-17T16:56:02Z")
Either: 1. The scene at the end of Casablanca where Humphrey Bogart gives his “I’m not good at being noble…” speech, or; 2. The scene in “Dr. Zhivago” where Omar Scharif and Julie Christie are in the frozen summer house, or; 3. The scene in “Holmes’ Hammer” where John Holmes goes balls deep in Seka’s ass. It really is a toss up. ---
**Author:** ![Treviathan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@Treviathan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treviathan)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/18 "2004-03-17T17:18:46Z")
I’ll second John Cusack holding the boombox in **Say Anything** (which would have been my first choice) and add a scene from **Punch-Drunk Love**. Adam Sandler is leaving Emily Watson’s apartment, and Watson calls down to the main lobby to tell him something to the effect of how much she wanted to kiss him while he stood in her doorway. The two characters are just so socially awkward that it’s wonderful when they finally break through to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/19 "2004-03-17T17:26:32Z")
**DeVena** , I’ll go you one better–the speech at the _second_ New Years’ party in _When Harry Met Sally_, when he tells her all the things he loves about her. Makes me weep every time. ---
**Author:** ![RitzyRae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@RitzyRae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitzyRae)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784/20 "2004-03-17T17:45:41Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > I like this scene from Sense and Sensibility > > Marianne (Kate Winslet) is recovering from her illness after her horrible end with Willoughby and she is sitting out on her lawn and Col. Brandon (Alan Rickman) is reading poetry to her. > > I don’t know, that scene gets me everytime. Thank you. That scene gets me everytime as well. #?? **The Scarlet Pimpernel** - At Lord Grenville’s ball, Marguerite St. Juste (Jane Seymour) risks everything to warn The Scarlet Pimpernel (Anthony Andrews) that Chauvelin (Ian McKellen) knows he will be in the library at midnight; all the while not knowing that The Scarlet Pimpernel _is_ her husband, Sir Percy Blakeney. In a whispered conversation, with her back to him as not to reveal his identity, Percy learns the truth about his wife’s past actions, and loves her once again with a moving intensity. Reaching for her shoulder he touches her, and she him, solidifying their bond and leading to Marguerite’s realization about her husband. The whispering, the costumes, the firelight… romance! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/100-most-romantic-scenes-in-movie-history/234784.md?page=2)