Salute to Valentine’s Day
Salute to Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, let’s recall some of Hollywood’s most memorable smooching scenes.
According to a study by Emisil: “Iconic movie kiss scenes have captured public interest far beyond their original release, with Google data showing how these moments continue to resonate with audiences. Even years later, the emotional power of these kisses often outshines a movie’s box office success or critical reception. These unforgettable kisses have become cultural touchpoints, proving that a single scene can keep a film relevant and beloved long after it leaves theaters.”
Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” (2002) ranks first with the highest Google search volume, IMDB rating and box office success — as Kirsten Dunst shares a rainy upside-down kiss with Tobey McGuire.
“La La Land” (2016) comes in second, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling sing and dance during the planetarium sequence.
“Brokeback Mountain” (2005) places third, recalling the tender kiss between Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal — one of the most defining cinematic portrayals of homosexuality.
“500 Days of Summer” (2009) celebrates the bittersweet kiss between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
“Titanic” (1997) is best known for the classic kiss between Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet at the doomed ship’s bow.
“Call Me By Your Name” (2017) features a passionate kiss between Timothee Chalamet and Arnie Hammer.
“Pride and Prejudice” (2005) pairs Keira Knightley with Matthew Mcfadyen in the screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s novel.
“Pretty Woman” (1990) with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere scores as a classic romantic comedy.
“Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015) makes the simple kiss saucier as Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan explore sexuality even further.
My favorite is “From Here to Eternity,” which caused a scandal back in 1953 as Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster locked lips on the beach in Hawaii.
Of course, one cannot forget canine kissing in Disney’s “Lady and the Tramp” (1955) as the lovable dogs share a string of spaghetti before locking lips.
And in “The Godfather, Part II” (1974), Al Pacino delivers the ominous “kiss of death” after he realizes his brother’s betrayal.
Susan Granger is a product of Hollywood. Her natural father, S. Sylvan Simon, was a director and producer at M.G.M. and Columbia Pictures. Her adoptive father, Armand Deutsch, produced movies at M.G.M.
As a child, Susan appeared in movies with Abbott & Costello, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Margaret O’Brien, and Lassie. She attended Mills College in California, studying journalism with Pierre Salinger, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with highest honors in journalism.