10 Hollywood films to set your mood for Valentine's Day
Updated : April 06, 2016 10:58 AM IST
February is for mush, February is for romance. And now with the summer breeze tugging on to your heartstrings with the much-awaited Valentine's Day in the offing, here are 10 all-time hit romantic films from Hollywood that you could watch to add to the mood. So, love birds, take your pick and soak up the mush!
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Nothing can beat the charm of the classics. This onscreen adaptation of Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer-winning novel tells the story of Scarlett O'Hara, the daughter of a Georgia plantation owner and Rhett Butler set against the era of the American civil war. At the 12th Academy Awards held in 1940, this film got 10 awards including wins for Best Picture, Best Director (Victor Fleming), Best Adapted Screenplay (posthumously awarded to Sidney Howard), Best Actress (Vivien Leigh) and Best Supporting Actress (Hattie McDaniel).
Casablanca (1942)
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Set in the era of World War II, Casablanca is one of the most famous romantic classics. American expatriate Rick Blaine who owns a nightclub in the Vichy-controlled Moroccan city of Casablanca ends up meeting his ex, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman), who's now the wife of Victor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), a rebel. It tells the story of Rick who has to choose between his love for IIsa or help her husband escape to continue his fight against the Nazis.
Roman Holiday (1953)
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Another all-time classic about the roller-coaster of a love story between a reporter Joe (Gregory Peck) and Ann (Audrey Hepburn), a sheltered royal princess, who's out to see Rome on her own. The ever-so-elegant and fashion frontrunner Hepburn won an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Actress for her performance.
The Sound of Music (1965)
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This American musical drama starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer is an adaptation of the 1959 Broadway musical by the same name. The film is about a young Austrian governess Maria, who's a nanny to seven kids. After an initial opposition from the children, she eventually becomes their best friend. In the background brews a silent love story between her and the father of the seven kids - a widower naval officer. The film won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and the accompanying soundtrack album was also nominated for a Grammy Award. Some of the most popular tracks from the film are, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi and the all-time romantic number Sixteen Going on Seventeen.
A Walk in the Clouds (1995)
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Keanu Reeves will make you weak in the knees in this romantic drama about a young soldier Paul, who's returning home from World War II. On his way he meets Victoria (Aitana Sánchez-Gijón) - a young woman, who's pregnant and abandoned by her boyfriend. Victoria is heading home from college to help her family with the grape harvest. Paul offers to 'act' as her husband just to pacify her domineering father. Do they fall in love during their stay at the family vineyard? Does her father get to know the truth? Do they become 'real' husband and wife? Watch the film to know what happens!
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
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An adaptation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, this Baz Luhrmann directorial stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in the leading roles. Set against warring mafia empires, with swords replaced with guns, the film will take you back in the days of the passion and longing, rejection and wars with a heavy dose of emotional unheavals.
Titanic (1997)
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This film needs no introduction, and not once or twice, you might have watched it zillions of times already but why not relive the moments to stir up your soul once again with the eternal love story of Jack and Rose set against one of world biggest disasters - the sinking ship,Titanic. The British passenger liner sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in the wee hours of April 15, 1912 after colliding with an iceberg. So, come embark on this journey with the dashing Leonardo DiCaprio and ethereal Kate Winslet playing longing lovers aboard the ship on its ill-fated maiden voyage. Nominated for 14 Academy Awards, it won 11, including Best Picture and Best Director, and was the first film ever to reach the billion-dollar mark.
The Notebook (2004)
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If Ryan Gosling is the man of your dreams then this is one film you MUST watch. Ryan will steal your heart away playing the local country boy Noah Calhoun, smitten by 17-year-old heiress Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams). They share an idyllic summer love affair and one day, Noah brings his love to an old house that he dreams to buy... and they make love. Allie's parents however do not approve of their romance and take her away. Noah writes 365 letters to Allie, but she gets none. Years roll by and now Noah has joined the World War II where he bumps into Allie, now an army nurse. What happens next? Well, that's for you to watch if you haven't already. The film starts at a nursing home where an elderly man is seen reading out this tale of love from his notebook to a fellow patient.
Before Sunset (2004)
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A sequel to the 1995 hit Before Sunrise, this film is about an young American man Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and French woman Celine (Julie Delpy), who spent a passionate night in Vienna. They meet one afternoon after nine years later in Paris, and then... well, Jesse is now a writer and a married man with a son, while Céline's has a boyfriend, too. The two talk and walk all day in Paris, and gradually their feelings begin to rekindle... a common story of love lost, morality and dilemmas of the mind that perhaps many can relate to is what will hook you on to this film, and stay with you forever.
No Strings Attached (2011)
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And finally one for the modern times, when lust rules over love... or does it? Natalie Portman and Ashton Kutcher's relationship starts on similar note in this film about two friends, who make a pact to have "no strings attached" casual sex without falling in love. Destiny, however, has other plans in store. Watch to know how long they abide by their contract or do they listen to their heart's calling?