Recommending Four Romantic Films And One TV Series For Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air around the world today. The perfect excuse then for me to recommend four of my favourite romantic films and one romantic TV series to everyone.

Priceless(2006)

This French film is romantic, hilarious and sexy in equal measure. Mistaken identity leads to true love set against the backdrop of the beauty of France. Irene(Audrey Tautou)is a fortune hunter/escort seeking to get whatever luxury benefits she can from the millionaire clients who she travels around with and shows a good time. After Irene mistakes adorable hotel barman, Jean(Gad Elmaheh), for a wealthy guest, the pair spend the night together which leads to Jean being fired from his job when his manager discovers the pair in a guest suite.

Audrey Tautou and Gad Elmaheh as Irene and Jean.

Irene teaches him what she can about her profession so he can do what she does and get some money. He becomes the companion to the older Madeleine(Marie Christine Adam). As the film goes on Jean and Irene keep running into each other at various hotels and restaurants and realise they are falling for each other, but will they get their own happy ending?

Audrey and Gad have a lovely chemistry. Audrey delivers one of her best performances and steals every scene as the luminous Irene, making her confident, seductive, yet deeply vulnerable(something that Irene tries to hide but doesn’t always manage to). Gad delivers a masterclass in physical comedy and wide- eyed innocence and haplessness. The great Vernon Dobtcheff has a small but memorable role as one of Irene’s wealthy companions. This one shines bright as a diamond and deserves to be much better known. If it had been made during the classic era I could imagine Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole as Irene and Jean.

Random Harvest(1942)

This one is guaranteed to leave you standing in a puddle of your own tears. Random Harvest tells the story of traumatised WW1 veteran, “Smithy”(Ronald Colman),who is suffering from shell shock and amnesia, and the outgoing and gentle singer, Paula(Greer Garson),who helps him gain back his confidence and a sense of self and loves him.

Greer Garson and Ronald Colman as Paula and Smithy.

A surprising development almost halfway through takes us down a most unexpected and equally moving route during the second half. This film is a testimony to the strength of love and to human compassion and loyalty. Ronald Colman and Greer Garson deliver performances which are arguably the finest of their respective careers and the pair have lovely chemistry. Ronald perfectly captures the inner turmoil and trauma of Smithy and his tentative steps to come out of himself and rejoin life under the guidance of Paula. Greer is luminous as the bubbly and kind Paula. A very touching and beautiful film.

Only You(1994)

This is one of the most underrated romantic films out there and I can’t get enough of it. Faith(Marisa Tomei)is told by a fortune teller when she’s a teenager that she is destined to marry a man called Damon Bradley. As she’s grown up this prediction hasn’t come true and she’s recently become engaged to someone else. When she learns that her fiance has a friend called Damon Bradley(who she has never met) who is travelling to Venice a few days before Faith’s wedding. She drops everything and flies out with her best friend Kate(Bonnie Hunt)to try and find him. Once there she is wooed by Peter(Robert Downey Jr)a fellow American who may or may not be the actual partner she should be with.

Robert Downey Jr and Marisa Tomei as Peter and Faith.

Shot on location in Italy, Only You is one of the most visually beautiful films you will see. Marisa and Robert have wild chemistry(the pair would briefly date after making the film)and they make you want Faith and Peter to get together by the end. The fabulous Bonnie Hunt(you’ve been away from films for far too long, girl!)steals the whole thing as an unhappy married woman who doesn’t feel loved or valued by her husband and finds an unexpected romance of her own with Giovanni(Joaquim de Almeida). Billy Zane is hilarious as a vain and gorgeous hotel guest who may well be the elusive Damon. This is one of my favourite go-to comfort films.

Sabrina(1954)

Audrey Hepburn shines as Sabrina Fairchild, the daughter of the chauffer to a wealthy family, whose youngest son, David(William Holden),Sabrina is absolutely besotted with. As time goes on she finds herself torn between the outgoing and charming, David, and his older and far more reserved brother, Lionel(Humphrey Bogart).

Audrey has lovely chemistry with both William and Bogie. I’ve always liked how Sabrina’s perceptions change and how she come to realise that the man she initially felt certain was who she wanted might not be right for her after all.

Audrey Hepburn, William Holden and Humphrey Bogart as Sabrina, David and Lionel.

The film is so romantic and is also both hilarious and touching. I like that the story doesn’t go the way you might think it will when you start watching. It’s also one of the most stylish looking films you’ll ever see thanks to the stunning work of costume designer Edith Head and Hubert de Givenchy(who was the one who made that iconic party dress Audrey wears). This one is a real gem.

Audrey modelling that gorgeous Givenchy evening dress.

As Time Goes By (1992-2005, TV series)

As Time Goes By is one of my favourite TV series. When it was on it was very popular and beloved here in the UK. This sitcom focuses on former sweethearts Lionel(Geoffrey Palmer)and Jean(Judi Dench)who had a relationship during the Korean war but lost contact during the conflict and went their separate ways through life. They meet again by chance decades later, after Jean has become recently widowed and Lionel is divorced. The pair tentatively reform a friendship which gradually develops back into the love they once shared. As the years pass they move in together, get married, and begin to make up for all that lost time.

Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer as Jean and Lionel.

Geoffrey and Judi were close friends and their natural affection for one another was always very evident on screen and served the series and their characters wonderfully well. I love how the writers got the balance between side-splitting comedy and poignant and very serious moments absolutely spot on. I also like that the series follows an older couple and shows that love can come when you least expect it in life and that later life can be just as fulfilling and meaningful as it is when you’re younger. Spending some time with Jean and Lionel always cheers me up.

Happy Valentine’s Day to all you lovebirds out there. Sending so much love to those who’ve lost their loved ones and to those who have yet to find that special someone.

Any other fans of these? What are some of your favourite romantic films and series?

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