Get your mind out of the gutter! I am talking about a movie.
Last night I watched An Affair To Remember, with Cary Grant, for the first time. I have been rifling through some classic lately that I never saw.
I admit I started the movie as a pessimist. Watching a movie from 1957 now is almost silly. The boat they were on was a joke of a set, the backgrounds of the places they were travelling were laughable. As I began the movie I didn’t think I would be able to get into it at all.
Then as the story progressed and our lovers had their first ‘kiss’ I was floored that the kiss wasn’t even on screen – it was halfway up a flight of stairs! In a world now where sex scenes count as PG rated movies – this renowned romantic movie didn’t even show the kiss! How crazy is that? I knew at this point that I was too engrossed in the scenery and what wasn’t being shown that this movie was. not. going. to. get. to. me.
An hour and a half later, when I found myself bolting into the next room for tissues… I couldn’t believe this movie with the no kissing (they more smoosh their faces cheek to cheek) and the silly sets and fake New York backgrounds not only got to me but got to me more than most movies I have seen.
What the hell happened?
I have reduced it to this – what wasn’t shown, what sets couldn’t capture your imagination takes over. You imagine their sweet phone conversations or the kiss or the struggles they went through. You didn’t have to be shown. I read a lot and this movie engages you like a good book. It wasn’t passive like many movies today. You needed to do a little engaging on your end as the viewer and I think THAT is how this movie got me by surprise.
Stupid love and feelings.
there is actually a picture of the kiss on he stairs, but it’s super rare, and I could only find it on one website.. he’s got his left hand gripping the rail, his right round her shoulder, and his face tilted to the left and hers to the right…. really emotional kiss!