Greetings, intrepid readers! M. H. Barton here with another blog on the art and craft of storytelling. Valentine’s Day was earlier this week, so I thought it was the perfect time to explore some of the most iconic romantic couples in film. I had intended to break this into two blogs, one on couples and the other on love stories, but the lists ended up basically the same. Anyway, I’ll be examining these couples and what makes their characterization and relationship so ionic. At the end of each entry, I’ll note their relationship’s best quality that a writer should take away for their own efforts. Of course, this is all highly subjective, so please don’t flame my opinion. With that said, let’s get started!
Number Ten – Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
Romance isn’t a central theme of most Marvel films, being more focused on typical superhero tropes of stakes and personal growth. Still, the bond between Steve and Peggy stands as one of the cornerstones that brought the Infinity Saga to its truly amazing conclusion. Their chemistry in Captain America: The First Avenger is one of the best parts of that film, and though their interactions are limited after that, Peggy remains the one constant in Steve’s life. She’s his guiding light, his true north. He may have tried to move on in the modern day with Peggy’s niece, Sharon (ew), but Endgame showed that it always comes back to Peggy. Seeing Steve finally get his chance to reclaim the life and love that circumstances stole from him was intensely satisfying.
Final takeaway: True love endures across generations and even through the multiverse.
Number Nine – Harry Burns and Sally Albright (When Harry Met Sally…)
Can men and women ever just be friends? The philosophical answer to that burning question remains unclear, but the answer for Harry and Sally was a resounding “no.” Through multiple chance encounters spanning college and much of their early careers, these characters go through one of the quintessential will-they-won’t-they romances in all of film. I’m not a romantic comedy guy at all, but I think what makes this film so enduring is how the titular relationship makes the viewer think. Why can’t Harry and Sally just be friends? Either their friendship pushes them towards romance or they hate each other’s guts, nothing in the middle. Is this natural, or is it a subconscious choice? If so, who’s choice? Does Sally intentionally push Harry away for him posing the question? Did Harry ask the question to subliminally push their friendship in a romantic direction? Or is he simply one of those men who are able to be honest about male tendencies when dealing with women? This relationship can only be described as the realest around.
Final takeaway: Sometimes, love must endure tough questions before it can blossom.
Number Eight – Princess Anna and Kristoff (Frozen)
Disney Animation has had more than a few strong couples over the years and I knew I wanted to include one on this list. Still, which couple? Belle and Beast are a tale as old as time, Tiana and Naveen make each other better, and Aladdin and Jasmine are an iconic power couple. That said, I went with Anna and Kristoff because they have something too many film couples lack: wholesomeness. Their relationship is incredibly pure. They don’t begin as love interests, but they don’t use the enemies-to-lovers trope either. They grow into their relationship naturally. The conflict of the story forces them to become a strong team, and through that teamwork, they slowly realize how much they care about each other. They don’t change for each other, they just figure out how well they work together. And even when troubles come, such as Kristoff’s loss of confidence in Frozen II, they know and trust in the solid foundation they’ve built. As Kristoff said, their love isn’t fragile.
Final takeaway: Don’t force a relationship trope like enemies-to-lovers if it’s not needed.
Number Seven – Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Titanic)
From an entry that avoids tropes to one that embraces two at once: love-at-first-sight and doomed-from-the-start. In a well-executed, if overdone, beginning, Rose and Jack fall for each other when Jack prevents her from committing suicide to avoid her loveless engagement. From the setting alone, the audience suspects from the beginning that their story will end tragically. The story does take place on the Titanic, after all. Still, this relationship is not one of equals in terms of the story, as the plot skews heavily towards Rose. Jack largely functions as a device to bring Rose out of her shell and help her find the fulfillment she had been lacking in her life. Combine this with the fact that we know an elderly Rose is telling this story in the future, and it comes as no surprise to the audience that Jack perishes in the freezing waters of the Atlantic. Still, Rose could have made just a LITTLE room for him on that raft! This is a classic love story, though I did knock it down a peg or two due to its predictability and plot holes.
Final takeaway: If tropes are appropriate and required, embrace them.
Number Six – Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy (Pride and Prejudice)
The 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic is renowned for its faithfulness to the story and strong acting. Leads Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen are on point from the start, chewing up scenes left and right as they reenact the most famous enemies-to-lovers story of them all. What’s remarkable about this love story is just how unlikely the ending seems in the beginning. Yet as the story progresses, we see the ending become more and more likely. Most impressively of all, none of it feels forced or implausible. I’ve already listed this film in my blog of the most satisfying endings in film, and all my commentary from that entry holds true here. Even though I’m not a fan of historical romance dramas, this one stands up as perhaps the best of them all.
Final takeaway: If enemies are going to fall in love, make sure it feels earned.
Number Five – Westley and Buttercup (The Princess Bride)
From a couple with relationship drama galore to one with almost none at all. In the case of Westley and Buttercup, that’s a good thing. Theirs is one of the sweetest romances in all of storytelling. They’re in love almost from the outset, plain and simple. Their story doesn’t follow the typical tropes of enemies-to-lovers or will-they-won’t-they. Instead, the story has drama and conflict from the outside forces seeking to deny them their happy ending. As a result, there is a startling amount of equality between these characters, as each is working through their own part of the story to reunite with the other. Buttercup may be a damsel in distress, but she often doesn’t really feel like it. Whether physically together or separated, Westley and Buttercup have an “us against the world” mentality, and it serves the story quite well. I know this film has a massive fan following who would skewer me if I didn’t include it on this list. As you wish.
Final takeaway: Relationship drama isn’t always necessary.
Number Four – Tony and Maria (West Side Story)
This 1961 movie retelling the Shakespeare classic features perhaps the most famous star-crossed lovers in film. Similar to Westley and Buttercup, Tony and Maria face very little relationship drama once they realize they’re in love. The drama and tension arise from outside forces – in this case, their rival gangs wanting to destroy each other. More than any other couple on this list, Tony and Maria are willing to die for each other and their love. That was the key factor that placed them above Westley and Buttercup. Both couples were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, but Tony actually did. While their tale of doomed love is ultimately very simple, it’s also iconic and unforgettable.
Final takeaway: If lovers would die for each other, they’d better mean it.
Number Three – Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund (Casablanca)
Ah, Rick and Ilsa. A classic example of the one that got away – twice, no less. Their romance blossomed under the most chaotic of circumstances, as they met in Nazi-occupied Paris during WWII. She believed her husband had been killed while escaping from a concentration camp. Having nobody else to turn to, Ilsa clings to Rick and the two plan to flee Paris. Of course, Ilsa soon learns her husband is alive and leaves without an explanation to return to him. In the subsequent two years, Ilsa’s love for Rick never falters, though Rick is bitter and resentful over how she left. Of course, once she finally tells him the whole story and admits that she still loves him, Rick understands how much of a selfish ass he has been. Now a changed man, Rick makes the difficult choice to help Ilsa and her husband escape Casablanca to neutral Portugal. Their final goodbye on the tarmac is one of the most iconic moments in the history of cinema, and even as they still love each other, Rick shows his love selflessly by making Ilsa leave on the plane with her husband. Here’s looking at you, kid.
Final takeaway: Sometimes, true love requires letting someone go.
Number Two – Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler (Gone with the Wind)
When great cinema couples are discussed, this pairing is probably the one most people think of first. Scarlett and Rhett are the quintessential southern romantic melodrama. Neither are particularly good people, certainly not at the outset, but this adds to why their relationship is so iconic. Scarlett is a spoiled, prissy southern belle who only wants to marry her cousin’s husband. Rhett is a self-declared cynic with no honor, though he respects those who do possess honor. Through Scarlett’s first two marriages and the trials of the Civil War, both eventually grow as individuals. After Atlanta burns, Rhett decides to stop profiting off of his smuggling and actually join the military as a soldier. Scarlett has spent the war scheming and ladder-climbing but eventually uses her sharp mind to help her family recover in the post-war era. These changes lead to Scarlett and Rhett finally getting married and having a child. Yet even with this seemingly happy turn, Scarlett’s self-destructive personality continues to bring misfortune. She refuses to sleep with her husband after losing her figure postpartum, building anger and resentment in Rhett. After losing her father, her daughter, her second unborn child, and her cousin, Scarlett is at the end of her rope. Yet with her cousin dead, Rhett decides the time has come for him to leave so Scarlett can, at last, be with her cousin’s widower. At that moment, she realizes she loved Rhett all along, but too little too late. She vows to find a way to win Rhett back, but whether or not she succeeds is left unclear. Theirs is a romance of tragedy and misfortune, so much of it due to their own egos.
Final takeaway: Dysfunctional relationships create great drama but must be done well.
Before we get to the top pick, let’s do a few…
Honorable Mentions
Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games)
A very popular pairing among fans of sci-fi. While Katniss and Peeta began their relationship out of necessity, doing their best to survive the Hunger Games and build a better life in Panem, it eventually grew into true dedication and commitment to each other and their ideals.
Frances “Baby” Houseman and Johnny Castle (Dirty Dancing)
While the audience might have thought this was going to be a good girl/bad boy pairing, it turns out that Johnny is a decent person. Their relationship progresses through Baby’s dance lessons with Johnny, through which she helps him overcome his self-doubt about his social status and even persuades her family to view Johnny differently.
Clark Kent and Lois Lane (Superman)
Almost all superheroes have love interests, but no hero is more closely tied to his counterpart than Clark Kent. Lois’ career and incessant ability to get herself into trouble are the catalysts for too many adventures to count. In addition, Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder were simply iconic in the roles, a super pairing that has yet to be topped.
Aragorn and Arwen (The Lord of the Rings)
This fantasy couple’s sappy sweetness manages to rival that of even Westley and Buttercup. There was something of a love triangle that included Éowyn, but let’s be real. It was always Aragorn and Arwen. The heir of Isildur who chose exile and the elven princess who chose a mortal life. Pure poetry.
And with that, it’s time for…
Number One – Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars)
This is it. The perfect romance. The greatest love story ever told. Han and Leia encompass so many romantic tropes it isn’t even funny. Enemies-to-lovers, will-they-won’t-they, and complete-each-other, just to name a few. In A New Hope, the potential for a pairing between them seemed completely impossible. After all, Han is a heartless smuggler and mercenary who’s only in it for the money. Leia is an idealistic leader in the Rebel Alliance who just watched the destruction of her home planet by the Empire. They couldn’t begin farther apart, yet Han’s wink at Leia at the end of the film hints at the incredible romance that is to come. We see Han grow a conscience and help the Alliance in their moment of need, helping him start to become a true hero. And when Han is forced to flee with Leia in The Empire Strikes Back, Leia is forced to confront the harsh reality of the trouble that frequently follows Han, explaining his tendency to improvise in intense situations. Their romance happens both naturally and also out of the blue, and this heartless smuggler ends up capturing the heart of a princess. And, of course, who could forget the ultimate profession of romantic feelings just before Han is frozen in carbonite? I love you. I know. The exchange is made even better by its reversal later in Return of the Jedi. Seriously, you won’t find a better romance in storytelling than this one. Don’t try to change my mind, I will fight you.
Final takeaway: Everything. Everything about this couple is perfect.
And that’s going to do it for this romantic blog post. Of course, I’d like to know what you think. Did I get it right? Screw it all up? Who did I leave out? Feel free to let me know in the comments or reach out directly, especially if you have any ideas or requests for future entries. I’ve got an active running list of ideas, but I’m always open to more. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave a like and share this post on social media. And to stay up to date on future blog posts, you can sign up for my monthly newsletter on my website. Until the next story!