Cara Summers: My Top Five Favorite Love Stories on Film

It’s February—a month for love stories, and I’ve just added a favorite to the top of my list. If you haven’t seen “The King’s Speech,” go now.

I know, I know—it will come out eventually on DVD, but seeing Colin Firth on the big screen is a definite plus. That’s why I went to see it. The pure eye candy factor. I’ve been in love with Colin for years, ever since he played Mr. Darcy in the Arts and Entertainment Channel’s “Pride and Prejudice.” And he’s a great actor. But I didn’t expect “The King’s Speech” to be perhaps the best movie I’ve seen in over a decade.

And it’s a great love story on so many levels.--the love of a wife for her husband, the love of a father for his daughters, the growing friendship between two friends—the king and the commoner—and the love of a king for his country.

Okay—enough about “The King’s Speech.” My next three favorite movie love stories are more classic romantic comedies. And because they’re all kind of tied in second place, I’m putting them in alphabetical order.

“Moonstruck” is a movie that I can sit and watch again anytime I accidentally stumble into it with my remote control. I’m half Italian, so that might be part of the pull. But Cher slapping and then jumping Nicholas Cage just doesn’t get old for me.

“Pretty Woman” also remains a favorite. I saw it the first time with my fourteen year old son. As we were leaving the theater, he said to me, “Mom, they changed each other, didn’t they?” I thought of Richard Gere walking barefoot in the grass and then climbing up a fire escape at the end. I saw “Pretty Woman” before I’d ever sold a book, and I think it helped me make my first sale. True love is supposed to change people.

Love certainly works its magic on Michael Douglas in “The American President.” That’s another movie that I never tire of. Whenever it’s on, I always seem to watch part of it.

And last but not least on the list of my top five is “Murphy’s Romance.” That movie holds a special place in my heart because it shows you can find true love any age. And it can still change you and make you a better person. That’s the story that makes us read and write romances.

Of course, I might point out that my favorite movie romances, besides telling a great love story, are also characterized by amazing performances, not just by the leading actors but also the supporting ones.

That’s my top five. I’d love to hear yours. I live in Syracuse, New York, and February is promising to be a long, cold month, so I could use some suggestions. If you agree with any of mine, you may encourage me to watch them again.

I also want to give three books away. So I’m thinking of a number between 1 and 19. The three people who guess it or come closest to it get a copy of my February Blaze or a book from may backlist. Good luck!