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I have a different taste for certain romantic movies. I do not like it when the two protagonists are split apart in the beginning then live happily ever after at the end. With half of marriages ending in divorce, it seems so manipulative. If we are going to manipulate the viewer, then let's have some real manipulation.
I do love Casablanca, and I do love some mushy romantic stories (The Enchanted Cottage) but, we all are paradoxes to our proclivities. I find many, but not all, contemporary movies disappointing.
The scene above is from The Fountainhead, one of the most absurd movies I really enjoy, for none of the reasons intended. It is a romantic fairy tale for adults. I have been told it is a serious favorite among the far-right romantics, since it is the work of Ayn Rand, but I can't believe that. I enjoy it for the same reason many of my friends do, because is so ponderously serious that it begs sarcasm, especially for those of us who enjoy heckling the screen, ala, Mystery Science Theater 3000.
It is filled with nuggets of Objectivist wisdom, told with somber passion. Dominique Francon(Patricia Neal) marries Gail Wynand (Raymond Massey) while giving her smoldering Objectivist will and body to Howard Roarke (Gary Cooper).
Dominique Francon (to Howard Roarke): I wish I had never seen your building. It's the things that we admire or want that enslave us, I'm not easy to bring into submission.
Yes, that is a romantic scene in the movie. Then, we have this:
Dominique: I'll marry you. Don't you want to ask me any questions?
Gail Wynand: No.
Dominique: Thank you. You're making it easier for me.
Gail Wynanad: Whatever your reason, I shall accept it. What I want to find in our marriage will remain my own concern. I exact no promises and impose no obligations. Incidentally, since it is of no importance to you, I love you.
I am not making this up! And you cannot miss the scene when Howard Roarke (Gary Cooper) is swinging his hand-jack hammer with metaphoric might, then his sexual over-powering of Dominique Francon, who rather enjoys it. (hum, maybe not a Legitimate rape.. Maybe this is where the conservatives get their word-parsing?)
I guess you figure by now my personal favorites would not include The Notebook or The Vow. I will take the opportunity to write things for the Hallmark Channel, because I am willing to be a hack from time to time, as most other writers.
Hum, it maybe the reason I like to write comedies where there is some manipulation going on. I really would prefer the uncertain ending, or even better:
They lived happily ever after... Apart..
That would be a great ending to a romantic movie. At least half of the audience can walk back to their cars feeling validated.
Not that I don't like a little fairy tale in romance, but let it be twisty like Moonstruck. It's really nice how Loretta gets to finally dump Johnny in the end, only to find he can't marry her anyway! It sits better with me than, say, Pretty Woman.
Pretty Woman, which is a the strangest of romantic message movies ever. Blow jobs will find you the man of your dreams. Sort of a different take on kissing frogs...