Romance on film is as varied and ever changing as romance in fiction. Romantic comedies, for example, have changed over the many decades of the film industry – or, if you’re 2016, altogether disappeared. Classic romances are sometimes remade but don’t hold the same charm as the original. There was a brief span of time wherein we had at least one Sandra Bullock rom com per year and possibly 1.5 Kate Hudson films as well, There was no shortage of romance on film to enjoy – to say nothing of some of the classics. Nowadays, there are a lot of great films that would appeal to romance fans available on multiple streaming platforms, which is pretty terrific.
So here’s our plan: we’re going to select a romantic movie each month, and announce the title and options for viewing. Then, on the last Sunday of the month, we’ll review the film and discuss how it holds up, how we enjoyed it, and whether we recommend it. We’d love to have you join us, too: you can watch when it’s convenient for you, and then join us in the comments for the discussion.
The good news: we have a HUGE LIST. Seriously, we could keep this going as a monthly feature well into 2019 given how many titles we thought of immediately, with release dates as recent as 2014 and as far back as 1939. For this month, we selected a film by random integer, and we’ll probably do that each month, unless there’s a film we are all dying to watch and discuss.
But! We would love to hear your suggestions, too! If you want to recommend a romantic comedy or a romance on film, please give us the details in this form.
Ready for our February pick? Thanks to Lord Random, Duke of Integer, we’re watching Desk Set, a 1957 comedy starring Spencer Tracey and Katharine Hepburn. It’s about two people who clash when their television news research department is computerized.
It’s available in multiple places, including Netflix, Google:Play, and Amazon.
Care to join us? Please do!
We will be posting our first Smart Bitch Movie Matinee review on Sunday, 28 February, and we hope you’ll join us to discuss the film in the comments.
I haven’t seen The Desk Set in years! My mom is big on TCM and AMC, so we always watched these types of movies when I was a kid. I’m definitely finding it on Netflix.
Gahhhh deskset! I loved that one as a kid, I haven’t seen it in forever. I’m always thinking about her plant. And the reindeer. And just *sigh* everything.
I just realized I can only think of two rom coms I’ve actually liked and not sure one of them really counts.
I’ve actually been seeing more “classic” romantic comedies thanks to Netflix. I saw BRINGING UP BABY a couple of weeks ago, and IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT is close up in my queue.
And for the record, I’m not sure a lack of Sandra Bullock or Kate Hudson rom-coms is a bad thing. I really don’t think the world needs any more movies like ALL ABOUT STEVE or HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS.
Ooh, I just watched “Desk Set” within the past month – definitely one of my all-time favorites – brilliant script, delightful acting. And one crazy office Christmas party!
Yes, the modern rom/com does seem to have faltered. Mostly in the banter department. I can think of tons of suggestions. Can we have a tangential discussion of how the rom coms we watched growing up have informed our favorite romantic heroes? I had a revelation recently while watching Father Goose for the first time in years.
I just nominated THE LADY EVE by Preston Sturges (1941), one of my favorite romcoms of all time. DESK SET is an excellent choice to kick-off this fab discussion idea!
I also have to give a shout out to HIS GAL FRIDAY (1940) for its portrayal of strong, no nonsense, career oriented heroines.
@ YotaArmai The plant! I have a Pothos problem thanks to Desk Set. Highly influential.
I recommended The Sheik, because I’m a cruel person. No, seriously, because the history of what we consider romance is fascinating to me.
The Lady Eve with Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwick. Very rarely shown but its an early Fonda like you don’t normally see him.
Squeeeee! Plus, on TCM today, they are showing The Philedelphia Story, Adam’s Rib, Born Yesterday, Sabrina, Casablanca and Now Voyager! The last two are not comedies, but they have romance.
I’m so happy you’re as excited as we are! This is going to be SO fun.
@Darlene: I LOVE His Girl Friday. LOVE. One of my favorites. I’m appalled at myself that I didn’t add it to the list already!
Wonderful idea! I’m shocked I’ve never heard of Desk Set — I love old musicals and romances. Thank you for the suggestion!
I could sit hear clicking suggestions all day. Why don’t I just suggest anything starring Cary Grant. Even the ones that don’t qualify, like Charade, still seem to contain elements of the romantic comedy.
Ohhhh! I’m excited for this!!
Also, for those interested in the story of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, the Hollywood history podcast, “You Must Remember This” had an episode about Tracy and his relationship with Hepburn recently (Nov 2015). It’s episode 64, “MGM Stories Part 9: Spencer Tracy.” It’s about 45 minutes long and it’s fantastic.
I’m recommending The More the Merrier (1943), with incendiary chemistry between Jean Arthur and Joel McCrea, and a wonderful script. I’d also like to recommend Remember the Night, which is a wonderful movie that will make you laugh and warm your heart (again, great chemistry between Barbara Stanwyck and Fred MacMurray and a gorgeous script by Preston Sturges). And a really entertaining costume film – Kitty, with Paulette Goddard and Ray Milland.
Great movie that comes from Way Back before the internet had everything for free (yeah, right, and if you believe that you are either an administrator or a fool). Every librarian worth his/her degree loves how it highlights that it takes a talented librarian to REALLY get answers quickly. Now we use the computer, the internet, proprietary databases like the one the newspaper is building plus our brains and skills to cut through to the answers.
I’m excited for this! I just nominated I Know Where I’m Going with Roger Livesey and Wendy Hiller. One of my FAVORITE movies!
I’ve seen Desk Set and enjoyed it. Don’t know when you’ll get around to reading the suggestions, but I’m the one who suggested Random Harvest from 1942. I love this idea if you can’t tell.
So pumped for this! Being a teen in the early 2000s with a fairly young mom, I enjoyed all the good 80s, 90s, and early 2K romance films like woah. Then the genre dissipated.
And I also loved Remember the Night when I saw it recently at my local film society. And the Lady Eve, and the Palm Beach Story. The last two were directed by Preston Sturges. And you must see Shop around the Corner from 1940 with James Stewart. It alternates with You Can’t Take it with You from 1938 as my favorite romantic comedy with him in it.
Double feature – An Affair to Remember (Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr) and Sleepless in Seattle. Sleepless in Seattle is so much funnier when you realize how many references they are making to the Grant/Kerr movie. And it was directed by Nora Ephron, whose parents wrote the screenplay for Desk Set.
Oooh! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to watch this.
I nominated Love Jones. I hope it gets picked. It’s urban, literary love at its best with a fantastic soundtrack.
I have a huge list of possibilities! I love a good romance. Obviously.
AADLJKADKLJADJKL:D DESK SET! Hepburn and Tracy make an amazing pair. She’s so smart, and he’s instantly bowled over by her. Plus: 50s computers and office drunkenness! Thanks for the excuse to watch this movie again.
Desk Set is one of my favorite films. I watch it every Christmas and envy that office party! The most romantic line in that movie, IMO, is “I bet you write terrific letters.” *swoon*
Loved Desk Set and Bringing up Baby and many others from that period. A couple of my mainstays, other than Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson), Pride and Prejudice (A&E) is Her Majesty Mrs. Brown, Notting Hill and Love Actually.
This seems timely.
http://mentalfloss.com/article/75441/25-surprising-facts-about-your-favorite-romantic-comedies
Haven’t seen the Desk Set in years. I want to suggest That Touch of Mink with Cary Grant and Doris Day. I grew up on these movies watching them with my mom. Cary Grant…sigh… I can’t get enough of him.
I love this idea! I remember liking but not loving Desk Set when I watched it originally. I caught the end of it on TCM a couple months ago and really loved it and have been planning on rewetting it. I love movies as much as I love books and have been lamenting the lack of good romances lately. I am going to look through my film lists on Letterboxd and make use of that recommendation form!
Are we following what I would consider romance rules for books where it has to have a HEA? Some of the movie romances I love like Brief Encounter and The Way We Were do not fit that criteria. I don’t know why but I appreciate tragic romance much better in movies than books.
@CelineB: I’m open to any and all suggestions, but we’re definitely wanting to savor the visual HEA!
I just watched Desk Set with my Mom last month. Clever film and a great choice to start the matinee series. My Mom totally identified with Bunny, waiting around all those years for the Gig Young character to marry her, just like my Dad a total cad!
I remember just loving those Doris Day rom coms when I was a kid, but I can’t watch them now, they are sooo bad.
I hope Truly, Madly, Deeply is on the list and Random Harvest with Greer Garson and Ronald Coleman….and oldie, but a goodie!
Kate Hudson….no way, but I do like Sandra Bullock’s rom coms, she is so very funny.
I nominated THE GIRL ON THE BRIDGE, the 1999 French movie featuring Vanessa Paradis and Daniel Auteuil. In it, a young woman (who tends to fall for the wrong guys) is about to jump off a bridge, but gets rescued by a world-weary knife thrower. It’s definitely a little warped (in an appealing way), but very sweet too. There’s some fun repartee, and one of the more unexpectedly sexy metaphoric sequences I’ve ever seen. I think it’ll provoke some fun discussions here…it made the cynical and romantic sides of me equally happy.
Awesome! Love Desk Set.
What an awesome idea! I cannot wait to partake and participate in this feature. Thank you SBTB for continuing to raise the bar. You ladies rock and I love that the rocking is interactive within the community of Romancelandia.
I just submitted The Long Hot Summer from 1958. Not only the on screen romance of Ben and Clara but the IRL love of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward as leads make it especially scintillating.
@Carolyn, I also submitted Love Jones since I didn’t see your comment before or notice it on the list until after I entered it. I haven’t seen it in years, but I loved it so much!
@Iaj, I wish Truly Madly Deeply was more widely available. It’s not on Region 1 DVD or available as a digital rental. Maybe the passing of Alan Rickman will change that. I had to get a VHS copy from my library a few years back.
I love romcoms. I do think they’re a dying breed. The last one I really loved was, um, Love, Actually. My perennial favorites are Say Anything…, While You Were Sleeping, and Roman Holiday. Swoon. All the love.
My favorite Hepburn/Tracy movie, love Desk Set.
I nominated “South Pacific”. It’s got a great hero and heroine, a tear jerking love story, conflicts about age differences and racism which was advanced for its time, fabulous songs, humor, and a beautiful and exotic location.
I was once waiting in a bank line, where they had a TV on with South Pacific playing. An entire line of women froze while Rossano Brazzi sang “One Enchanted Evening”. I swear, nobody moved until the song was over.