Movie Kisses

Once upon a time, this memorable kiss was deemed torrid and sensual. To be fair, at the moment in movie history, who wouldn't think that? Two bodies drenched by The Pacific Ocean's crashing waves as they lie entangled, lips locked, in the wash?

The movie was 1953's From Here to Eternity. The scene was an adulterous embrace between two lovers: Burt Lancaster's Sergeant Milton Warden sucking face with army wife Karen Holmes portrayed by the immutable Deborah Kerr. Both gleamed wet in black and white, and when they ran up the beach to a drier spot, Milton dropped to his knees, kissing Karen (back when that name didn't connote what it does today), leaving her gasping...

"I never knew it could be like this. No one ever kissed me the way you do."

Major swoon for this filmgoer. I mean, had I actually seen the entire movie and not this iconic scene, I'm sure I, too, would have been swept away.

That said, I gave it some serious thought about the power of a real and reel kiss. I considered “Which ones packed the most punch?” With that in mind, I've compiled a list of my favorite screen kisses over the decades. Talk about movie magic…

10. Gone With The Wind (1939) - Rhett kisses Scarlett aka Mrs. Frank Kennedy.

Granted, Rhett was proposing Scarlett take a walk down the aisle for the third time as her first husband died a boy in the pointless Civil War and her last was killed defending her honor. Taken to drink from all of her self-induced drama, Scarlett's a bit tipsy when Rhett comes a-calling. Kissing her and suggesting she become his wife, she scoffs and calls him a fool for wanting to kiss her knowing that she will always and only love the apathetic Ashley Wilkes.

Grabbing her while offended and holding her in his arms in a way you can't write in movies currently, he commands-

RHETT: "Stop it. I tell you, Scarlett, stop it. No more of that talk."

Rhett proceeds to whip her up in his arms, to which she responds that he should stop kissing her lest she faints. Not bad for a Southern Belle and a wicked Yankee charmer who loved her with his whole heart.

9. Grease (1978) Opening Beach Scene

This classic musical begins with a montage of Danny and Sandy falling in love, thanks to the assistance of the sand, surf, and The Pacific Ocean.

With "Love is A Many Splendored Thing" as the musical accompaniment, Danny and Sandy cavort as though actual teenagers (they were both in their twenties at the time of production; the late, great Olivia Newton-John almost 30). Who could blame the virginal Sandy for falling for this T-Bird? I would have been lost in John Travolta's blazing blue eyes and chin dimple if I were a young, naive Aussie as well. It's the most poignant part of the movie in my opinion and makes the ending that much more satisfying when we see them so innocently in love and how the relationship unfolded organically.

8. Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) The Fight Scene.

I don't know if it's the voyeur in me or what, but between setting the house on fire, heavy weaponry, and generally attempting to kill each other, I secretly enjoyed watching the principals, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, actually falling in love while bringing this script to life.

When Jane tells John to take the shot, screaming while attempting to hold back tears, he chooses to take her in his arms instead, thereby sealing their fate with a hungry kiss.

In real life, that reel life kiss was followed by the two thespians growing their own United Colors of Benetton brood with three exotically adopted kids and three of their own. Too bad only the movie lives on. The union ended acrimoniously. Probably shouldn't have tested fate by making their second movie, By The Sea (2015), together. After that, it all fell apart for Mr. And Mrs. Pitt.

7. Bourne Identity (2002) Changing Marie's Appearance Scene.

The first in a series of three unparalleled spy flicks based on a novel, you would think the character, Marie, might rue the day she opted to accept payment for providing a ride to a stranger with amnesia. As an operative, Jason has a list of enemies hoping for his demise and, subsequently, hers. In an attempt to disguise her identity and get her to safety, Jason Bourne is also skilled at home hair coloring and cutting, as we see him attending to Marie's hair.

While cleaning up the remnants of a chemical hair coloring session in the dingy hotel bath, he steps aside, not realizing Marie is feeling frisky, perhaps the possible loss of life getting her motor going.

Marie initiates an awkward kiss, and Jason vacillates briefly before giving in to their mutual passion, the camera making sure to remind us he's a marked man as per the bullet wounds in his shoulder.

6. Tootsie (1982) John Van Horn kisses Dorothy/Michael

Played for amazing comedic effect, Dustin Hoffman's character ad-libs out of the scene that requires his character, Dorothy Michaels, to be pawed by the doctor slash Lothario, whose co-stars secretly refer to him as "the tongue." It's a soap opera scene within a movie, and while the impromptu dialogue is genius, the payoff for the scene happens when John Van Horn congratulates Dorothy for her acting chops (who he assumes is a "real" woman) by planting a huge wet one on her unsuspecting lips. Comedy gold.

5. Crazy, Rich Asians (2018) Proposal on The Plane Scene

First of all, what a wonderful change of pace to see such gorgeous Asian American/British actors portraying characters falling in love like the rest of the world.

Henry Golding is a dreamboat and later starred in Netflix's Persuasion, written by my dear friend and writing partner, Ron Bass. In this movie, the proposal was the perfect full-circle moment in that his character was able to propose to Rachel Chu with his mother's massive emerald and diamond ring, thereby proving to Rachel he finally had his family's approval on their future union. I love how a random passenger in the aisle of the plane accepts the proposal before Rachel pulls her paramour into a passionate embrace.

4. Roman Holiday (1953) I Don't Know How to Say Goodbye Scene

I wouldn't know how to either if faced with never seeing the striking Gregory Peck again. Audrey Hepburn's princess on the run spends a magical day pretending to be a commoner with Peck's hard-nosed reporter. With not so many words spoken, the two characters can acknowledge their real feelings for one another before their sad kiss goodbye.

Incidentally, I saw this movie in a theater at LACMA, and I have to admit it was hysterical and heartfelt in a way a DVD or YouTube can't quite capture. Something definitely got lost in translation, and I think it was the passion between the principals so evident on the big screen.

3. Moonstruck (1987) - Ronnie and Loretta Fall In Love Scene

Cher's Loretta insists on inviting her future brother-in-law to her wedding when there is "bad blood" between her fiancé and the rebellious brother played by a young Nicholas Cage before he had major dental work.

In discussing their shared "bad luck" the two principals encountered on the road to true love while drinking excessively, Ronnie warns Loretta about what a bad decision it is to marry the brother he is quite convinced she doesn't actually love. Sure, Loretta admits to playing it safe, but also claims to be doing what she is doing to become a bride.

So irritated by her stated compromise, Ronnie pushes over the kitchen table before reaching for Loretta, pulling her to her feet. There is a beat before they kiss passionately. She breaks away with-

"Wait a minute, wait a minute."

And then falls back into his embrace. The rest of the scene left me in hysterics.

2. Cousins (1989) Cabin Scene

The characters played by Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini try hard to avoid falling in love with each other as they are married to other people, albeit unhappily. When they cannot fight the feelings a moment longer (a beautiful scene on a train platform proceeds), they take a romantic motorcycle ride out to a scenic spot. After consummating their passion while wrapped in rumpled bed sheets, Ted Danson's character looks concerned when he pulls out of a kiss, observing-

"Oh, your lip is bleeding."

"Forget about my lip" is the response before Isabella continues kissing.

Talk about a major swoon.

Fun fact, this movie also features the incredible Lloyd Bridges, father of Beau and Jeff, and a man who married his one true love in real life, the only woman with whom he was romantically entangled, both in real and reel life.

And finally, the movie kiss that influenced my youth. Drum roll, please…

1. Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) - Practice Kiss in The Garage Scene

Watts and Keith are just teenagers, but she harbors a serious crush on her best friend. Unfortunately, Keith is enamored by the beautiful popular girl Amanda Jones, played by Zoe Deutsch's mom, Lea Thompson. And poor Watts is a tomboy with a penchant so serious for drumming she takes her drumsticks everywhere she goes. Nobody portrayed teenagers quite as effectively as the late John Hughes. RIP.

Watts offers to "practice" kissing with Keith before he finally scores a date with Amanda, asking him what he plans to do with his hands before instructing the only place they can go is on her hips. While she plays the part of his dream girl, he looks confused by the assignment at hand. Keith laughs nervously, and Watts tells him to grow up a little. She then puts her hands on his shoulders, explaining-

"She'll probably do this."

"How do you know?" he questions.

"I watch a lot of TV. Close your eyes."

And they kiss, and somewhere in the lesson, the example goes from practice to perfect, causing Watts to pull away.

In my opinion, this is the most effective screen kiss I have ever witnessed, and I still blush when I think about it today.

All of my prepubescent friends and I dreamt of such a kiss, some of us still waiting for the guy who, as Watts puts it, "can deliver a kiss that kills."

The movies still inspire us all… FWA, August 30, 2023