When I was little, like eight or nine, I played piano. I had a songbook of popular hits and one of the songs I enjoyed was called Love Story. It had this haunting, sad melody. If I was feeling distraught about something or just moody, playing this song seemed to pull me deeper into my emotions. I didn’t know at the time that Love Story was the theme song to a really sad romantic movie of the same title. My mom must have known, must have seen the movie even, but she never told me about it. Or if she did, it didn’t hold my interest.
So just a few weeks ago, I rented the 1970s film Love Story as a bit of research on the romance genre. It was on multiple lists of all time best romantic films. I recognized the Love Story theme immediately when I was trying to turn off the subtitles, and as the melody connected me with that childhood melancholy, I knew I was in for an emotional rollercoaster.
When the film was over, I immediately went to my husband. Teary-eyed and sniffly, I hugged him, telling him how happy I was to have already had ten wonderful years with him. In other words, this movie played an e minor concerto on my heart strings, rendering me sappy, emotional and aware of the love and happiness in my life.
Is this what we want in a romance? To connect to the love in our own lives? Absolutely. A tragic ending? Occasionally, when done well (Romeo and Juliet for example). As far as tragic love goes, I would never change the ending of Love Story. It is a perfect composition, from the moment they meet in the university library to the father and son passing each other in the turnstile door of the hospital.
But is this what we want most of the time? Um, no. We romantics prefer a happy ending. In fact, if you read through articles and posts on the romance genre, people expect a happy ending. I’m not saying we always want fluff, but we want romance, a good story and happiness.
kristininholland 
Interesting. Here are two of my favorite romance movies, both with an Africa flair. One has the romance and pathos, the other the romance and happiness. Out of Africa and The African Queen. Both have adventure and danger woven in as well . . . .must be a guy thing.
Hi Doug, I’ll check them both out. Danger and adventure woven in are also great and appeal to a wider audience. I remember out of Africa as being a romance with the land and people of Africa itself. I look forward to seeing it again, even though it’s tragic too. I don’t know the African Queen. Interesting that both of your favorites are set on the same continent.
Romance and good story and happiness. That about does it for me. Happy endings rule.
Good to hear you’re with me on this one 🙂
OOPS! I Goofed up. Not “Out of Africa” at all – don’t even recall the movie much. It was “The English Patient” I was thinking of. I’m a sucker for that one.
now that makes sense! That is a classic!