My favourite 'Weepies', Love Stories starring Bette Davis, Jane Wyman, Cary Grant, Claude Rains and Rock Hudson.

Ever since Romeo and Juliet cinematic love has had to endure many difficulties; terminal illness, blindness, deafness, other disabilities and of course non approving parents.

All these adversities are categorised in movie terms as 'The Weepie'; films made for us girls. The most famous weepie is Love Story (1970) starring Ali McGraw and Ryan O'Neal. I must confess I have never seen this film, (wrist slap myself), but I know all about it; rich boy meets poor girl at university and they get married against parental advice then discover she is dying.

'Love means never having to say you're sorry'

Bette Davis is one my favourite actresses, I have never seen her give a bad performance in a film and she is marvellous in Mr Skeffington (1944). Claude Rains plays her long suffering wealthy husband of the title, despite his wife flirting with other men he still adores his wife. She is a selfish vain woman who gets her come-uppance when her looks at affected by a serious illness. 

'A woman is beautiful when she is loved, and only then'


Among my box sets is movies directed by Douglas Sirk. It contains the film Magnificent Obsession (1954). It has the type of plot only Julia Roberts would consider today. Hudson is a selfish young man from a wealthy family who likes fast cars, expensive boats and beautiful women. When he causes an accident in which widow Wyman is blinded he studies and qualifies as a surgeon so he may operate on her and restore her sight. (Hankies at the ready).

'The Great Love Story'


An Affair to Remember (1957). A couple meet on a ship and fall in love, when they decide to marry they arrange a meeting a the top of The Empire State Building, however things do not go as planned. 

'If you can paint, then I can walk'