Counter-Point: Another List of Great Romantic Movies

I have another take on romantic movies. I must admit I'm not in to the latest trend in flicks. But I think the ones I've selected are pretty right up there on the romance meter.

Got some others that you want to share? Please do so.

Casablanca (1942)

After all, how can you say no to "Casablanca." This has got all the ingredients of a romantic classic movie: Bogie and Bergman light up the screen, bad guy Nazi Conrad Veidt tries to keep Ingrid Bergman's on-screen husband and resistance hero Paul Henreid from taking his cause to America, French police captain Claude Rains attempts dalliances with the local ladies and a refugee girl. Wonderful atmosphere - and who can beat the stirring scene in Rick's when just about everyone gets up and sings "La Marseillaise." And then of course there's "As Time Goes By." (97 percent on the Tomatometer).

It Happened One Night (1934)

A Frank Capra masterpiece, and yes it's in B&W. Claudette Colbert is a spoiled heiress who escapes from her millionaire father Alexander's yacht when he kidnaps her after she elopes with King Westley, a playboy aviator whom Andrews thinks is a fortune hunter. She boards a bus headed for New York and meets reporter Clark Gable, who has just been fired. Well the rest is cinema magic. Some hysterical moments and again, great romance! Another 97 percent on the Tomatometer.

Roman Holiday (1953)

Audrey Hepburn's first starring role (and she won an Oscar to boot). She plays a princess on a good-will tour who, bored with the schedule, escapes into Rome proper and meets reporter Gregory Peck (what is it about reporters who always get into spots like this?) and his sidekick photographer Eddie Albert. Well the rest is fun, wonderful scenes and romance. And yes it's black and white. Score on 98 percent on the Tomatometer.

Moonstruck (1987)

Has some of the most quotable movie lines - and is laugh out loud funny. Cher plays Loretta Castorini, a Brooklynite who becomes engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Johnny Cammareri played by Danny Aiello, who she doesn't love. While he's visiting his dying mother in Sicily, Loretta tries to patch things up differences between Johnny and his brother Ronnie, played by Nicholas Cage. Well, wow! That crazy moon takes effect. There's some wonderful opera in this - and in more ways than "La Boheme." Loretta's mom is played by Olympia Dukakis, her father by Vince Guardenia - and well, it's great fun! This film gets a 93 percent on the Tomatometer.