The Greatest Classic Romance Movies

Updated September 18, 2020 7.9k votes 999 voters 53.5k views75 items

List RulesVote up the very best romantic love story films that were made before 1970.

Who wouldn't swoon over a romantic tale of two people coming together against all odds to fall in love? These classic romances defined a beloved genre in cinematic storytelling. The best early romance movies feature A-list actors and actresses testing the notion that love conquers all. This is a list of the top old romantic films including everything from It Happened One Night to Bringing Up Baby to Rebecca.

What films will you find on this list of the best movie love stories? Casablanca is one of the most iconic films, let alone romances, ever made. Set amidst the turmoil of World War II, Casablanca sees Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) struggling to choose between the woman he loves and helping the resistance fight the Nazis. His Girl Friday is another movie released before 1950 featuring a timeless love story. Gone with the Wind is an epic tale of romance spanning the American Civil War. Other good films featured on this top early romantic movies list include The African Queen, The Red Shoes, and To Have and Have Not.

Do you have a favorite classic love story? Give the best movies a thumbs up and please add any good films that are missing.

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Casablanca
Ingrid Bergman, Humphrey Bogart
Released: 1942
Directed by: Michael Curtiz
Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz and based on... more
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It Happened One Night
Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert
Released: 1934
Directed by: Frank Capra
It Happened One Night is a 1934 American romantic comedy film with elements of screwball... more
More It Happened One Night
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Gone with the Wind
Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh
Released: 1939
Directed by: Sam Wood, George Cukor, Victor Fleming
Gone with the Wind is a 1939 American epic historical romance film adapted from Margaret... more
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Rebecca
Laurence Olivier, Alfred Hitchcock
Released: 1940
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Rebecca is a 1940 American psychological thriller-drama film. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, it... more
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Laura
Gene Tierney, Clifton Webb
Released: 1944
Directed by: Otto Preminger
Laura is a 1944 American film noir produced and directed by Otto Preminger. It stars Gene... more
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An Affair to Remember
Cary Grant, Deborah Kerr
Released: 1957
Directed by: Leo McCarey
An Affair to Remember is a 1957 film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, and directed by Leo... more
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The Shop Around the Corner
James Stewart, Frank Morgan
Released: 1940
Directed by: Ernst Lubitsch
The Shop Around the Corner is a 1940 American romantic comedy film produced and directed by... more
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Romeo and Juliet
Norma Shearer, Basil Rathbone
Released: 1936
Directed by: George Cukor
Romeo and Juliet is a 1936 American film adapted from the play by Shakespeare, directed by... more
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To Have and Have Not
Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart
Released: 1944
Directed by: Howard Hawks
To Have and Have Not is a 1944 American romance-adventure film directed by Howard Hawks, and... more
More To Have and Have Not
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The Thin Man
Myrna Loy, Cesar Romero
Released: 1934
Directed by: W. S. Van Dyke
The Thin Man is a 1934 American comedy-mystery film directed by W.S. Van Dyke and based on the... more
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Notorious
Ingrid Bergman, Cary Grant
Released: 1946
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Notorious is a 1946 American spy thriller film directed and produced by Alfred Hitchcock,... more
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Now, Voyager
Bette Davis, Claude Rains
Released: 1942
Directed by: Irving Rapper
Now, Voyager is a 1942 American drama film starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid, and Claude... more
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His Girl Friday
Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell
Released: 1940
Directed by: Howard Hawks
His Girl Friday is a 1940 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, from an... more
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The Best Years of Our Lives
Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright
Released: 1946
Directed by: William Wyler
The Best Years of Our Lives is a 1946 American drama film directed by William Wyler and... more
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Wuthering Heights
Laurence Olivier, David Niven
Released: 1939
Directed by: William Wyler
Wuthering Heights is a 1939 American black-and-white film directed by William Wyler and... more
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Top Hat
Lucille Ball, Ginger Rogers
Released: 1935
Directed by: Mark Sandrich
Top Hat is a 1935 screwball musical comedy film in which Fred Astaire plays an American dancer... more
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My Fair Lady
Audrey Hepburn, Rex Harrison
Released: 1964
Directed by: George Cukor
My Fair Lady is a 1964 American musical film adaptation of the Lerner and Loewe stage musical... more
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On the Town
Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly
Released: 1949
Directed by: Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly
On the Town is a 1949 musical film with music by Leonard Bernstein and Roger Edens and book... more
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My Man Godfrey
Carole Lombard, Jane Wyman
Released: 1936
Directed by: Gregory La Cava
My Man Godfrey is a 1936 American comedy-drama film directed by Gregory La Cava. The... more
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Leave Her to Heaven
Gene Tierney, Vincent Price
Released: 1945
Directed by: John M. Stahl
Leave Her to Heaven is a 1945 American Technicolor film noir starring Gene Tierney, Cornel... more
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The Philadelphia Story
Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant
Released: 1940
Directed by: George Cukor
The Philadelphia Story is a 1940 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor,... more
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San Francisco
Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy
Released: 1936
Directed by: D. W. Griffith, W. S. Van Dyke
San Francisco is a 1936 musical-drama directed by Woody Van Dyke, based on the April 18, 1906... more
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Dark Victory
Ronald Reagan, Bette Davis
Released: 1939
Directed by: Edmund Goulding
Dark Victory is a 1939 American drama film directed by Edmund Goulding, starring Bette Davis... more
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Sabrina
Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart
Released: 1954
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Sabrina is a 1954 American romantic comedy film directed by Billy Wilder, adapted for the... more
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A Letter to Three Wives
Kirk Douglas, Jeanne Crain
Released: 1949
Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
A Letter to Three Wives is a 1949 American romantic drama film which tells the story of a... more