Love stories
In 2002, The American Film Institute, AFI, complied the 100 greatest love stories of all time. Take a look to see if some of your favorites are included in the top 25:
King Kong holds Fay Wray in scene from the 1933 movie "King Kong." Other films on AFI's list include "On Golden Pond" (#22) "Now, Voyager" (#23) and the romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally" (#25).
21. Pretty Woman
Julia Roberts plays a down-on-her-luck prostitute who is hired by an exceedingly wealthy businessman, played by Richard Gere, to be his escort. The 1991 film was a critical success and became one of 1990's highest grossing films.
20. From Here To Eternity
Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the famous beach scene from the 1953 film "From Here To Eternity." Their on-screen chemistry was carried off screen too -- the stars were romantically involved while filming the movie.
19. Ghost
In 1990, Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore starred as Sam and Molly in "Ghost." After being killed during a botched mugging, Sam's love for Molly enables him to remain on earth as a ghost.
18. Vertigo
James Stewart and Kim Novak in scene from movie, "Vertigo." The 1958 Alfred Hitchcock classic is about a San Francisco detective suffering from acrophobia who investigates the strange activities of an old friend's wife, all the while becoming dangerously obsessed with her. The film was poorly received by U.S. critics on its release, but is now hailed as Hitchcock's masterpiece.
17. Moonstruck
Cher won an Oscar for her portrayal of a widowed Brooklyn book-keeper torn between her fianc
15. Wuthering Heights
Emily Bronte's tale of vengeful, thwarted love in the Moors Yorkshire stars Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon as Heathcliff and Kathy. A 1992 remake of the 1939 original stars Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes.
14. The African Queen
Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart as Rose Sayer and Charlie Allnut in scene from movie "The African Queen." Hepburn stars in six films on AFI's greatest love stories list: "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner (#58), "On Golden Pond (#22) "Bringing Up Baby" (#51) "The Philadelphia Story" (#44) and "Woman of the Year" (#74).
13. "Out Of Africa"
Meryl Streep stars as a Dutch woman whose life begins to unravel after entering a marriage of convenience and moving to Africa where she ends up falling in love with another man, played by Robert Redford.
12. My Fair Lady
Audrey Hepburn stars in the film adaptation of the stage musical, "My Fair Lady," based in turn on the play "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw. Hepburn stars in four other films that were ranked in AFI's list of the top 100 romantic movies: "Roman Holiday" (#4), "Two for the Road" (#57) "Sabrina" (#54) and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (#61).
11. Annie Hall
Directed by and starring Woody Allen, a neurotic New Yorker named Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall, played by Diane Keaton. The 1977 romantic comedy won four Oscars -- including best director and best actress in a leading role, best screenplay and best picture.
10. City Lights
Charlie Chaplin's The Little Tramp struggles to help a blind flower girl he has fallen in love with. In 2007, the silent film from 1931 was named the eleventh greatest American film of all time by AFI.
8. It's A Wonderful Life
This classic Christmas story also ranked as the eighth favorite romantic movie. "Dr. Zhivago" ranks No. 7.
9. Love Story
"Love means never having to say you're sorry." Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal star in this tearjerker from 1970.
6. The Way We Were
Memories... In 1973, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford star as two desperate people who share a wonderful romance, but their political views and convictions drive them apart. The film is one of seven of AFI's top 10 greatest love stories featuring couples that do not end up together in the end.
5. An Affair To Remember
Starring Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr and Richard Denning, this 1957 remake of of the 1939 film "Love Affair" follows a couple who falls in love on a cruise and agrees to meet in six months at the Empire State Building. The 1993 film "Sleepless In Seattle," which was loosely based on "Affair," came in at No. 45.
4. Roman Holiday
In this romantic comedy from 1953, Audrey Hepburn plays a bored and sheltered princess who escapes her guardians and falls in love with an American newsman, played by Gregory Peck, in Rome. Hepburn won the best actress Oscar and her Edith Head wardrobe won an Oscar, too.
3. West Side Story
The adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name was loosely adapted from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The 1961 movie musical stars Natalie Wood, Rita Moreno, George Chakiris, Russ Tamblyn, and Richard Beymer. It took home 10 Oscars, including best picture.
2. Gone With The Wind
AFI's No,. 2 pick is the Academy Award-winning saga of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler set in the old south during the Civil War and Reconstruction. In 1940, the film won eight Oscars, including best picture.
1. Casablanca
Of all the films, "Casablanca," walked in the joint at No. 1. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman starred in the 1942 classic. "Here's looking at you, kid."