Yesterday, I wrote about songs with a Rendezvous as the theme and it made me think about movies with this as a big part of the plot. So here are my 3 films that came, right away, into my head when I thought of that word…rendezvous…
1. BRIEF ENCOUNTER-1945
This is the first film that popped into my head and it is a brilliant film that does not age. It does not involve 20 something, beautiful kids but middle aged, real people in real situations. Celia Johnson is in a happy marriage but she feels a bit stifled, like she’s missing something. At the train station, she gets something in her eye and a kindly doctor, played by Trevor Howard, helps get that speck of dirt out of her eye. They talk and, instantly, they feel a strong attraction. Over time, they continue to meet at the train station and fall in love. They decide to consummate their love but her guilt takes control. It’s brilliantly acted, the storyline is perfect because it happens today. She’s in a good marriage, married to a kind man but we can’t control emotions. It’s a must see film.
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS-1951
This film, arguably, won the Best Picture Oscar and it’s a worthy contender even if I don’t think it should have won. This film musical is famous for the 20 minute ballet set to Gershwin music with impressionist paintings as backdrops. It’s original and inventive even for today. Gene Kelly is an American trying to make it as a painter, in Gay Paris, along with his piano composer friend, Oscar Levant ( he always brings great sarcasm to the screen). At a nearby Cafe, they meet up with their famous cabaret friend who talks about his love for a girl who is perfect in every way. At a party, Gene meets a girl, Leslie Caron, and wants to know her even more. After some misunderstandings, they meet under the bridge along the Seine and have a loving rendezvous. He soon learns that she is his friend’s girlfriend and is devastated. The climatic ballet is one you can watch all on its own and it is brilliant, but I always loved this simple scene of the 2 who meet and dance under the bridge,
3. SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE-1993
I’m finally talking about this film which is a remake of the Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr film, “an Affair To Remember” which is a remake of “Love Affair” that starred Gene Arthur and Charles Boyer. This is a sweet film that stars Tom Hanks as a bereaved widower who is still dealing with the loss of his wife. He has a precocious son who feels his dad needs to find a new woman to fall in love with. The boy calls onto a radio show and Tom ends up on the radio talking about his wife whom he loves. Now, every woman wants to meet this man including news woman, Meg Ryan. As she looks into this story she becomes more enamoured with Tom Hanks. The kid believes they need to meet on top of the Empire State Building like in the Grant/Kerr film and makes sure this will happen. It’s a wonderful romance comedy which was a big theme in the 1990s and often did star Meg Ryan. This is one of her better films.
So what films makes you think of rendezvous?
Second blog I’ve read in two days featuring Brief Encounter! Apparently there is a heritage centre in the station where it was made.
ReplyDeleteHow cool! It's a great film
DeleteHi Birgit,
ReplyDeleteBrief Encounter is indeed a beautifully wrought masterpiece of longing and mixed emotions with exquisite performances by everyone but no one is better than Celia Johnson.
I don't know if Sleepless in Seattle is so much a remake of An Affair to Remember as a fresh idea inspired by that film. Whatever it is, the film is a gentle charmer with near career best performances by the two leads, a delightful turn from Rosie O'Donnell and a wonderful audience surrogate in Jonah played so well by Ross Malinger.
I don't know if you remember my piece on An American in Paris for Dell's Against the Crowd feature but I HATE THAT MOVIE!!!
Ironically I watched a French movie yesterday starring George Sanders (it was his birthday), along with Annie Girardot called Rendezvous! So I decided to list three with that title even though they don't all refer to the word in the romantic assignation way.
The French one from yesterday was very much about romantic contretemps with melodramatic complications including murder and an overwrought finale.
Next is the 1935 film Rendezvous starring William Powell and Rosalind Russell (playing a socialite named Joel!) as well as Binnie Barnes. The leads of course have a romantic underlying story but they find themselves involved with a spy ring.
The third is another French film, this one directed by Eric Rohmer titled Rendezvous in Paris which is a trio of vignettes of what happens on three dates in the title city.
I agree that Celia is the actor in BRIEF Encounter albeit the whole ensemble is brilliant.
DeleteYou're right that Sleepless is not A remake but inspired by that film even showing clips From it but I was thinking where they were meeting.
Oh yeah....I forgot you hate this movie. I wish you could send me the link. I forget why you hate it so. It should not have won best picture.
I was thinking of rendezvous films because I like the Powell and Russell film. I have not seen the others but I love George Sanders and would love to see it. I haven't seen the French film but Rendezvous in spy films are huge.
Hi Birgit, Here's the link to my post on An American in Paris :-)
Deletehttps://dellonmovies.blogspot.com/2016/08/against-crowd-blogathon-2016-guest-post.html
I loved Sleepless in Seattle. Excellent pic.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well.
Sandra sandracox.blogspot.com
I'm good! Pain but I'm good and glad you like Sleepless...it is good
DeleteSleepless in Seattle, one of my favorite movies of all time. What I love most about both it and American in Paris is the soundtrack.
ReplyDeleteOh...Sleepless is good...so sweet and needed now more than ever. Yes, the soundtracks on both would be great especially American in Paris
DeleteYour first pic sounds familiar, but I don't remember seeing it. Must look for it now. ☺ Even though I'm not a fan of musicals in general, I love all of Gene Kelly's. including this one. 'Sleepless in Seattle' was good too, as are the movies it was based on. What about 'Avanti!' (1972), starring Jack Lemmon and Juliet Mills? One of my favourites. ☺
ReplyDeleteOh wow! Yes! Avanti is excellent. I totally forgot about this film. I laughed when Lemmon held up his socks in front of Juliet mills' nipples
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteThe one movie that immediately jumped into my mind when I read the word "rendezvous" in your title was 'AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER'. (No surprise there, I suppose.)
I like Gene Kelly (my Ma LOVED him!) but I'm kind of "Eh" about 'An American In Paris'. Don't hate it, but don't need to see it a second time, either.
I don't recall having seen 'Brief Encounter'. I'll look to see if any of my cable channels have that one for free.
~ D-FensDogG
I think you would really like BRIEF Encounter. I hope you get to see it. Yes, an Affair To Remember is perfect for this but I went Sleepless
DeleteI could never top your picks, Birgit. You bring the best of cinema to us. I didn't realize the history of the story of Sleepless in Seattle. I think this makes me appreciate the movie even more. Didn't see the others, but I love the scene you posted from An American In Paris.
ReplyDeleteHugs!
Birgit,
ReplyDeleteI could've sworn I left you comment on this post. I guess I forgot. Anyway, the only one of these I've seen is the last one, Sleepless in Seattle. I think it was some years after watching this movie that I learned that its a remake and that there are references in it to the older one film. Good movie picks!