Getting the girl

[altariel]

This post will contain spoilers for Roman Holiday, Notting Hill and Legally Blonde, although if you are worried about being spoiled for romcoms, I don't think you're quite getting the genre. I hadn't realized until my current rewatching of Roman Holiday the extent to which it influences Notting Hill. Replace the princess with the film star, and there you have it. There's even the press conference set piece at the end. The main difference is that in the '50s Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn have to part. But by the '90s, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts can be together. And that, o my sisters, is progress. 

Both films also contain one of my favourite romantic narratives: rich girl and poor boy in love. This has something to do with reconfiguring patriarchy, I'm sure. You can join up the dots yourself. 

I also thought as I was watching how much fun it would be to have a Bujoldian version of Roman Holiday. Gregor would be in the Audrey Hepburn role, of course, and someone like Elli Quinn would have to be in the Gregory Peck role. Of course, Bujold largely does this herself in The Vor Game, but it's all a lot more dramatic and serious in that, and without the romance. Something lighter and more comedic - and romantic - is what I had in mind. Still set in Rome, mind you. 

While on the subject of romcom, and as I was saying to katlinel, my recent viewing of Legally Blonde brought home the extent to which the romance is actually between Elle (Reese Witherspoon) and Vivian (Selma Blair). They follow the classic romcom track: initial dislike and hostility, tentative and guarded overture, misunderstanding and massive fallout, ultimate reconciliation. Elle's romance with her professor, Emmett, has no real trajectory in comparison. In fact, all you need to do is replace the caption: "Emmett is going to propose - tonight" with "Vivian is going to propose - tonight", and you would have a genuinely perfect film. It's pretty damn close already.

Comments

[copracat]

although if you are worried about being spoiled for romcoms, I don't think you're quite getting the genre.

*loves you*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Seems to me it's all about the journey.

[executrix.livejournal.com]

I think that in the Firefly 'verse, Companion = Celebrity, so one way the story could play out post-movie is precisely Poor Boy/Rich, Famous Girl Who Is Valued By Her Culture.

And my projected plot for HP 7 is "Death Lee Hallows: Magically Blonde" where she turns up and litigates Voldemort into submission.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of Mal and Inara in that way, and you're dead right. Ideally there's an element of posh girl/unposh boy in it too.

she turns up and litigates Voldemort into submission

Because lawyers can be heroes too, just like sociologists.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

*swoons* Lord, me too!

[kalypso-v.livejournal.com]

Love the velvet icon!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think they're pretty!

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

I have a huge soft spot for Hugh Grant, and Notting Hill is one of my favorite movies - perhaps because you have "real" romance and passion, mixed with the delightful sort of humor that will always be british for me.

Roman Holiday always was one of my favorite movies when I was younger and those black and white-romances were shown on lazy Sunday afternoons on one of three TV channels available. *nostalgic smile*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I love Notting Hill too (much more than Four Weddings and A Funeral). It's a very gentle, very vulnerable film.

I have a box set of Audrey Hepburn films I've been steadily working through. Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's to come - yippee! - tho' I think Roman Holiday is my favourite.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

he extent to which the romance is actually between Elle (Reese Witherspoon) and Vivian (Selma Blair).

You are a genius.

"Vivian is going to propose - tonight"

And I like to think that her grandmother would have given her gorgeous ring to offer Elle as well, with her grandmother's blessing, Elle being a much better prospect than Warren Jerkmeister III.

Both films also contain one of my favourite romantic narratives: rich girl and poor boy in love.

Definitely go see The Illusionist.

Still set in Rome, mind you.

With or without the Egyptian eyeliner?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I like to think that her grandmother would have given her gorgeous ring to offer Elle as well, with her grandmother's blessing

That's happening in my head now :-)

With or without the Egyptian eyeliner?

So much better with, I think.

[aervir.livejournal.com]

I hadn't realized until my current rewatching of 'Roman Holiday' the extent to which it influences 'Notting Hill'.

*headdesk*

I had never noticed this, either, although both are among my favourite feel-good movies, with their gentle humour, their playful atmosphere and some genuinely sweet romance. 'Notting Hill' makes me even like Hugh Grant, which is no mean feat.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Notting Hill is one of my favourite feel-good films as well. Legally Blonde is also guaranteed to make me feel happy.

[glitterboy1.livejournal.com]

the romance is actually between Elle (Reese Witherspoon) and Vivian (Selma Blair)

Ha, brilliant! Of course it is!

*files the thought away under 'happy things'*

[altariel.livejournal.com]

All makes sense, doesn't it? :-)

[gair.livejournal.com]

?? They're just two girls in a room!

;P

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oi! *prods*

Just two girls in a court-room.