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Ah, movie love scenes. They're the cinematic expression, from one person to another of the depth of their feelings. The best movie love scenes send your heart soaring and make you want to be in love yourself. I was reminded while compiling this list of how important music is to a good love scene. Last week I gave you "Five Great Movie Sex Scenes" so this week in honor of Valentine's Day, here in alphabetical order are seven great movie love scenes and the music that made them soar.
Last of the Mohicans (1992) - Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe: Directed by Michael Mann, this film is based on the James Fenimore Cooper novel. Madeleine Stowe is Cora Monroe, Daniel Day-Lewis is Hawkeye, the adopted son of a Mohican elder. The two are drawn together when Hawkeye, his father and his brother escort Cora and her sister to Colonel Monroe's fort during the French and Indian war in 18th century North America. The fort is under attack and in the midst of all the death and destruction Cora and Hawkeye acknowledge their love for each other.
One night after Cora leaves the infirmary where she works Hawkeye finds her. He grasps her hand and without saying a word leads her to a quiet corner before taking her in his arms. This scene is so satisfying because up until this point Cora has abided by the prim and proper rules of the period while still being attracted to the freedom Hawkeye represents. In this scene all conventions are shed in a whirl of long dark hair and passionate embraces.
Original Music by Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman.
Love Actually (2003) - Colin Firth, Lucia Moniz: This movie is filled with love scenes and love stories, hence the title, but my favorite story is of Jamie and Aurelia. Jamie is a writer who's girlfriend cheated on him and Aurelia is the Portuguese woman who takes care of his retreat in the French countryside where he goes to write. Neither of them speaks the other's language but nonetheless they fall in love. Eventually they must part but by the end of the movie Jamie decides he can't live without Aurelia and goes to find her. He ends up at the restaurant where she works as a waitress, trailed by her father, sister and half of her neighbors who all suspect something wonderful is about to happen.
When he finally sees her, he uses his very funny broken Portuguese, which he's been learning just for her, to ask her to marry him. She responds in the broken English she's been learning just for him, "Thank you. That will be nice. Yes, is being my answer."
Original Music by Craig Armstrong.
Pride and Prejudice (2005) - Keira Knightley, Matthew MacFadyen: "You have bewitched me body and soul...and I love, I love...I love you, and never wish to be parted from you from this day on." Matthew MacFadyen's Mr. Darcy says this to Keira Knightley's Elizabeth Bennett at the end of this glorious adaptation of Jane Austen's celebrated novel. But as great as this scene is, the better love scene comes right after.
Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy are seated on a patio overlooking a setting sun and rolling lawns. They're in their bed clothes and Elizabeth is teasing Mr. Darcy about what endearments he may call her depending on the circumstances. He asks her when he may call her Mrs. Darcy. She says, "You may only call me Mrs Darcy, when you are completely...and perfectly...and
incandescently happy.
So he says, "And how are you this evening, Mrs. Darcy?" He kisses her cheek. "Mrs. Darcy," he kisses her neck. "Mrs. Darcy," he kisses her lips. "Mrs. Darcy..."
Original Music by Dario Marianelli.
Room with a View (1985) - Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Sands: Miss Lucy Honeychurch is on holiday in Florence, Italy with her companion when she meets an enigmatic young man, George whose eccentricity intrigues her. During an outing on a beautiful, sunlit day, she unexpectedly comes upon George all alone in a barley field. Kiri Te Kanawa sings Puccini's "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" as George turns and sees Lucy. Without hesitation he goes to her, takes her in his arms and soundly kisses her. Though they're interrupted by Lucy's companion the scene is important because the kiss begins to unlock Lucy's secretly held desires.
A brief trivia note, the actor who plays Lucy's priggish fiance in the film is none other than an almost unrecognizable Daniel Day-Lewis.
