Okay, I just had a really big laugh. The American Film Institute has released its One Hundred Years, One Hundred Passions list, of the 100 greatest love stories of the 20th century. Usually, I disagree with AFI’s lists. They’ve been COMPLETELY off on a whole bunch of them. But I actually agree with most of this list: Casablanca at number 1, Roman Holiday and An Affair to Remember in the top ten. There are a few I disagree with, but overall, sounds good.
This is what gave me a laugh. Number 68–What’s Up, Doc?! Right above number 69–Harold and Maude! The two movies I was complaing didn’t make the “Cult Classics” book! What’s Up Doc? does have a love story, sure, but even the love story is treated in true screwball comedy fashion. One of the best lines in the whole movie is at the very end. Howard is played by Ryan O’Neal, who had just finished filming Love Story the year before, which contained the famous line (which O’Neal spoke)– “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” So in What’s Up, Doc?, Judy (played by Barbra Streisand) tells Howard “Let me tell you something. Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” The camera moves back and forth between the two of them, then comes back to focus on Howard as he says “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” See? Love is a means to a screwball end.
Harold and Maude, on the other hand, is purely black comedy. The love story is disturbing (a 17-year-old man and an 80-year-old woman?!? Even RJA would object!), not inspiring or tragic, like good love stories should be. So can you tell me why those two movies (which I love, don’t get me wrong, I just don’t think they’re love stories) made the list, while Somewhere in Time is nowhere to be found? And why they’re ranked over Dirty Dancing, Barefoot in the Park, and even The Princess Bride? Nope, I just don’t get it.
I also don’t think West Side Story deserves number 3. But most of the top ten– yeah, sure, I agree with that. I think the AFI needs to get more consumer input when choosing their movie lists.