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The May Irwin Kiss
This was one of the first films to be commercially shown to the public and lasted only 20 seconds. This short film is one of the very first examples of the romantic genre which has always been very popular in films. -
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Theda Bara
She was an unsuccessful stage actress called Theodosia de Coppett until she changed her name to Theda Bara in 1914 for Fox Studios. She instantly became a major star in her first role as an exotic, sexually-aggressive femme fatale vamp character - in A Fool There Was. She was famou for her seductiveness and her catchline request, "Kiss Me, My Fool," This led her to became the first movie sex symbol. -
Camille
This was also remade in 1917, 1921 and 1927 and shows the same innocent love between two people. -
Intolerance
This was subtitled, "Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages," and showed a different kind of romance focusing on unrequited love. -
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Rudolph Valentino
Rudolph Valentino was one of the two most prominent characters in silent romantic films. He was dubbed the "Latin Lover" after an illicit tango dance in The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921). He also appeared in a number of dramas, including Blood and Sand (1922) as a bullfighter, Cobra (1925) as a notorious ladies man, and The Eagle (1925). He also went on to become a box-office male superstar after he played a dashing Arabian sheik named Ahmed in a few silent adventures. -
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Garbo and Gilbert
They were one of the first on-screen couples in the silent era. Greta Garbo and her handsome screen counterpart John Gilbert first appeared together in Flesh and the Devil in 1926 with three extended love scenes. They had Hollywood's first French kiss on screen as well as the first-ever horizontal-position kisses in an American film. -
Flesh and the Devil
One of the first movies to show a couple sharing a French kiss in a garden scene. -
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Jean Harlow
She was the original 'blonde bombshell' She gave many sensual performances in some of the first romantic comedies. -
Trouble in Paradise
This is one of the first romantic comedies and we start to see the merging of two differnt genres together. -
The clock
The romances after the war were all very sentimental as people were still grieving for all of the loved ones that they lost, therefore both TV series and films reflected their feelings. -
Singin' in the rain
A romantic comedy filmed like a musical showing the transition studios made from silent movies to movies with sound. -
West side story
This is a modern version of 'Romeo and Juliet' -
Love Story
A classic romantic film of the 70s. -
Grease
This is the love story between a 'good girl' and a 'bad boy' and how they change to be with each other. -
Dracula
A darker side of romance emerges as the genre starts to merge with horror and adventure to create a more thrilling tale. -
Making Love
This was one of the first mainstream films featuring homosexual love. -
Romancing the stone
This is one of the first romances that were considered suitable for both men and women as it is a romance and adventure genre therefore it is not considered too 'girly'. -
Jewel of the Nile
This is the sequel to 'Romancing the Stone' and started off the popularity and interest in film series with an adventure/romance genre. -
When Harry Met Sally
This is a famous film about the friendships between men and women and how they will never be able to be just friends. -
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Hugh Grant and British Romances
In the 90s a series of romantic comedies featuring Hugh Grant have become increasingly popular as people enjoy watching light hearted romance. -
Titanic
One of the most famous romantic movies featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. -
Brokeback Mountain
This was the first mainstream gay/bi-sexual romance film to be heavily promoted by the media. -
Twilight
The facination with Vampires was portrayed in this movie and introduced it to a new generation conveing that it was allowed to be facinated if not attracted by them and other part-human characters. -
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Twilight series
This series inspired the dark romance/adventure genre to become very popular. -
Red Riding Hood
This is one of the many children's stories which has been remade to appeal to teenagers and adults instead. This is a new trend which has been increasing in popularity in the last few years. -
The Hunger Games
This is a romance/adventure film but also explores the deeper meaning of capitalism and what it could lead to in the future.
