This is random and completely unrelated to books but I thought I'd share with you what I consider to be the top romantic dance scenes in movies.
Beauty and the Beast - Belle & Beast
Beautiful in every way. Every little girl's dream fairy tale dance. Compare this scene to the end when the Prince in his human aspect dances with Belle in the same clothes, in the same ballroom, to the same music. No comparison, right?
Pride & Prejudice - Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy
Courtship of course is like a dance. This one is curious as it's more adversarial than romantic. But I love how this scene interprets that telling moment between two people when they're so mesmerized by each other that everyone else disappears and it feels like they're the only ones in the room. Elizabeth may loathe Mr. Darcy but how the sparks fly from her eyes when she looks at him and how heated her face gets during their exchange.
The Sound of Music - Captain and Maria -
The Captain is sexy from the moment he comes marching onto the screen, so stern and forbidding. Not so for the shabby nun-to-be, Maria. But in this scene, the wholesome convent girl suddenly becomes sexy herself, symbolically being moved from the children's realm by his dashing, gloved hand to that of the adults. She blooms so becomingly beneath his appreciative gaze.
The Swan - Princess Alexandra & the Professor
This is what inspired me to start thinking about romantic dance scenes in movies in the first place. Princess Alexandra (Grace Kelly) is trying to make Prince Henry (Alex McGuinness) jealous enough to ask for her hand in marriage so what does she do? Invite the poor but brilliant Professor (Louis Jourdan) to the ball. Throughout the movie the Princess has been curt and formal with the Professor, who is secretly in love with her, but in this scene, during their first dance together, watch how without one word, her icy demeanor slowly, gracefully melts under the heat of his unspoken adoration.
The English Patient - Count Almasy and Katherine
This is the shortest clip I've included and IMO the sexiest. Count Almasy's the brusque loner who loathes to talk, especially to her. Katherine's an English aristocrat and very much married. In these few moments she quickly realizes that he doesn't despise her at all. The desire in his scorching hot glance could make the worldliest woman blush. Certainly made me squirm in the theater when I saw it.
Strictly Ballroom montage - Scott & Fran
Fran is the one I most identify with - clumsy goof watching the gorgeous Scott from the wings. (Seriously, I could watch his backside forever.) She dares to present herself as his partner at a dance competition and he very reluctantly takes her on. This montage shows their secret practice sessions. Note how with every look and every move, Fran expresses her love for Scott.
What are your favorites?
Yes, yes, yes and yes! Love this list. I would add to this the finale of Dirty Dancing, just coz I love that lift! Also love the one with Uma and John in Pulp Fiction. And every dance scene in Billy Elliot!
ReplyDeletegroovy yes i lov belle
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, yes, STRICTLY BALLROOM! Paul Mercurio was so hot! And then he went on to make that horrid movie, EXIT TO EDEN, but he redeemed himself somewhat with the TV movie, JOSEPH.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of dancing :D Awww lovely
ReplyDeleteGreat dances! I've actually always been partial to modern ballet. To me, it is so romantic. From 2 of my fave all time dance movies:
ReplyDeleteSusan the Silent from Finnian's Rainbow
and Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in the dream sequence from An American in Paris (only could find the first half)
I'm a huge fan of dance! And I loved that one between Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy, especially when all they could see was each other. It was so swoooooon!
ReplyDeleteBelle – How could I forget Dirty Dancing???
ReplyDeleteYeah, all those scenes are hot!
Roro – Doesn’t that scene just take your breath away?
Kathryn – I was debating on whether or not I should post that scene of him just dancing by himself. Oh my, what a beautiful, beautiful man.
Blodeuedd – I envy people who can dance…
Melissa (Books and Things) – Great choices! How about Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse in Singing in the Rain or Brigadoon? Beautiful!
Missie – Oh, they may have verbal spars but who are those two kidding?!
I love that you included The Sound of Music. That is one of my favorites and I wouldn't have even remembered if you hadn't had it on your list.
ReplyDeleteI have to add Dirty Dancing (shocker). And I have to agree with Missie about Pride and Prejudice (it is the song I walked down the aisle to after all).
Now I must go watch Strictly Ballroom!
Beauty & the Beast and Sound of Music are two of my favorite dance scenes. P&P is a good one too. Fun post :)
ReplyDeleteOMG!! U made me wanna watch Beauty and the Beast all over again. And trust me, I've watched that movie more times than I can count. My folks had to finally hide the CD when I was 13. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I love watching dancing in movies and Strictly Ballroom is one of my favorites.
ReplyDelete