AFI Names Top Ten Romantic Comedies of All Time
Charlie Chaplin Movie "City Lights" First Pick in Romance Films
Jul 26, 2008
The American Film Institute has named the "The Top 100 Films of All Time." The movie genres are divided into ten different types, listing ten films each. The Top Ten Romantic Comedies of All Time are timeless movies that explore the comedic situations which can arise with romance. The American Film Institute defines Romantic Comedy as a genre in which the development of a romance leads to comedic situations. The Top Ten Romantic Comedies of All time include: City Lights, Annie Hall, It Happened One Night, Roman Holiday,Philadelphia Story, when Harry Met Sally, Adams Rib, Moonstruck, Harold and Maude and Sleepless in Seattle.
The number one pick is a Charles Chaplin masterpiece, City Lights. City lights is also the oldest movie on the list, made in 1931. The newest movie on the list is Sleepless in Seattle, made in 1993.
Director George Cukor shows up on the list twice. Cukor directed Philadelphia Story and Adams Rib. Katherine Hepburn starred in both of these Cukor movies, so the actress also made the list twice. Meg Ryan, star of When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle was also listed in the romance category two times.
AFI Top Ten Romantic Films of All Time
- City Lights. Charles Chaplin stars as a tramp who struggles to help a blind flower girl he has fallen in love with. In a case of mistaken identity, the flower girl believes that her benefactor is a millionaire. 1931. Charlie Chaplin and Virginia Cherrill. Director: Charles Chaplin.
- Annie Hall. Alvy Singer is a neurotic comedian who traces his memories of his former girlfriend, Annie Hall. Won four Oscars. Stars Woody Allen, Diane Keaton. Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon. Director, Woody Allen. 1977
- It Happened One Night. Romantic Comedy in which a spoiled heiress runs away from her family. She is helped by a man who is a reporter looking for a story. Won five Oscars. Stars Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. Director Frank Capra. 1934
- Roman Holiday. An aristocratic princess runs away from her guardians in Rome. She meets and falls in love with an American newsman. Won three Oscars. Stars: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert. Director: William Wyler 1953
- Philadelphia Story. Smart romantic comedy about a rich woman, her ex husband and a tabloid report. The woman has thrown out her playboy husband and is about to marry a respectable man. Won two Oscars. Stars: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Steward, John Howard. Director: George Cukor. 1941
- When Harry Met Sally. Sweet romantic comedy about two friends who fear that sex would ruin their friendship. Stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan. Director Rob Reiner. 1989
- Adams Rib. Real life lovers Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn play a husband and wife lawyers who are opposing each other on a court case about a woman who shot her husband. Stars: Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn. Director, George Cukor.1949
- Moonstruck. Set in 1930's Brooklyn, this romantic comedy is about a widowed bookkeeper who decides to remarry. Won three Oscars. Stars: Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Vincent Gardenia, Danny Aiello. Director: Norman Jewison. 1987
- Harold and Maude. Friendship between a 20 year old man and 80 year old woman. Stars: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort. Director, Hal Ashby. 1971
- Sleepless in Seattle. A widower in Seattle is helped in the romance department by his son. The son calls a radio talk show, where a New York woman hears the man's voice and is intrigued. Stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. Director: Nora Ephron. 1993
Resources: American Film Institute and IMDb.
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