Recently I rewatched a couple of beloved older movies through the lens of being a relatively new, but avid, romance reader, and something hit me: I think I loved romance, or at least romantic themes, long before I realized it. This post is about a few of those early romantic impressions.

To dilute the relentless self absorption of this exercise, I’d love to know if I’m alone in this, or if you think you, too, may have been drawn to romantic story elements in film and TV even before picking up an actual romance novel.

1. The Terminator (1984)

I recently rewatched this movie, which as you likely know, is about a woman who is hunted by a cyborg sent back from a postapolcalyptic future in which machines have taken over the planet. The Terminator, played to perfection in this first installment by the present governor of California, wants to kill Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) before she has a chance to give birth to John Connor, who will grow up to lead the anti-machine insurgency in the future. The adult John has sent back a fellow resistance fighter, Kyle Reese, to protect his mother.

As a teenager, I loved Sarah Connor in this film (as opposed to the caricature they made of her in Terminator 2). You may recall that it was Sarah, not Reese, who killed the terminator. She was a heroine I could believe in, an ordinary person who grew to meet seemingly insurmountable challenges. I also loved the time travel conundrum presented here — Sarah becomes pregnant with John after sex with Reese.  So which came first? Did John know he was sending back his own father?

Viewing it again last week, I realized that there are very strong romantic themes in this violent movie, albeit in an inverted sense. For example, there are a lot of standard romance settings:  a bar scene, a car scene, and there’s a long quiet interlude in a hotel room in which Sarah and Kyle bond, very like today’s rom suspense novels, and eventually make love. For my money, Kyle’s line, “I came across time for you Sarah,” is one of the most surprising, yet believable, romantic lines in a sci fi movie.

2. Gigi (1958)

When I first saw this movie, I was a first year college student. I had a habit of avoiding life by going into the library, signing up for a movie booth, putting on headphones and disappearing for a couple of hours. Surprisingly, given my loathing for My Fair Lady, I loved Gigi, especially for the music (“I Remember it Well”, or “I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore”, for example) and the visual experience (click here to see what I mean). The costumes and the interiors have to be seen to be believed. It’s set in the turn of the century Paris, but I would hardly say they go for accuracy, which would be very insulting to French people, but rather a stunningly transportive visual experience. I also loved the adult, forthright, fun approach to sexuality.

Re-viewing it recently, I was shocked to discover that this is essentially a historical romance novel on film (actually, it was a novella prior to its staging and filming). Gigi is a beautiful young woman being groomed to be a courtesan by her grandmother and aunt. Meanwhile, Gaston, a wealthy young sugar baron’s son, is the toast of Paris, with a different party and mistress every night. He is dear friends with Gigi and her family. Gaston is the classic depressed aimless rake. He eventually decides to make Gigi his courtesan, and at first she won’t have it. Finally she realizes, “I would rather be miserable with you than miserable without you.” They do get their (rather abrupt) HEA when Gaston realizes she must become his wife.

3. Foul Play (1978)

This was a (comedic) romantic suspense novel on film if there ever was one. Chevy Chase, as a bumbling cop, and Goldie Hawn, as a shy librarian, fall in love while he tries to protect her from the baddies. It’s often remembered for Dudley Moore’s hysterical scene as a would be gigolo, but what I recall is how handsome young Chevy was and what a fantastic kissing scene (if you follow the link, the kiss is around minute 5) he shares with Goldie. In fact, and this is likely TMI, which is why I am putting this one in the middle (so those of you who skim won’t see it), but it was the first time I remember being completely turned on, by anything, ever.

Yes, you read it right. I owe to Chevy Chase my sexual awakening. It explains a lot, actually.

4. The Manions of America (TV series, 1981)

This was the miniseries that introduced Pierce Brosnan to the United States. It’s kind of amusing that the hero went on to play James Bond and the heroine (Kate Mulgrew) went on to captain the Starship Voyager. In Manions, they played they two headstrong characters who fell in love against the odds. This is another romance novel on film. You have Rory, the Irish 19th century proud yet ambitious peasant, and Rachel, the haughty but vulnerable English miss, the forbidden attraction, and the famine that drives him to America, where he becomes rich and powerful.  I fell hook, line, and sinker for both of them. And when, after three miscarriages, Rachel’s doctor tells her no more babies, Rory has to stay away from her, and eventually becomes tempted by a younger gal. Determined to keep her man, Rachel confronts him and they have angry sex. He tries to resist, but …  it’s Kate Mulgrew. Resistance is futile.  It ends badly, sorry to say. Scene here.

I haven’t re-viewed this one because I am sure I would find the accents atrocious, the history ridiculous, and the acting poor. But boy, did it make an impression. If anyone has seen it recently, I would love to know what you think!

5. The Bionic Woman (1976-78)

God, did I love Jaime Sommers. I wanted to be Jaime Sommers. Athletic, gorgeous yet down to earth, strong and kind, and, unlike most women, who were getting sixty cents for every dollar men made, worth seven million dollars (this is controversial. Some say she was made with spare parts and was thus cheaper). We first met Jamie when the six million dollar stud, Steve Austin, traveled back to his hometown and wooed the young tennis ace. They eventually got engaged and made the unfortunate choice to go skydiving. Jamie crashes, with disastrous results. Steve convinces Oscar Goldman to rebuild her, and she gets the bionic arm, legs and ear. I recall so clearly Jamie pushing back those blond locks behind her ear to hear baddies from miles away. Jaime’s body rejects the bionic implants and she eventually dies — in Steve’s arms!! — but her character was so popular she got resurrected for her spinoff.

I responded to Jaime as a 7-9 year old looking for role models, but I am not surprised how clearly I can recall her relationship with Steve: it was a big part of the draw for me.  (In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit the Fembots storyline also made a lasting impression. Fembots were evil powerful androids who were difficult to tell apart from humans. I am convinced I ended up writing a dissertation on trust 20 years later as a result of the terror and awe inspired in me by the Fembots).

This was a fun trip, for me anyway, down memory lane. Where would yours take you?