Originally published July 23, 2009 at 3:52 PM | Page modified July 23, 2009 at 5:43 PM
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Scarecrow suggests | Like 'The Ugly Truth'? Find more romantic-comedy banter on DVD
For more rom-com battles between the sexes, try "His Girl Friday," "Pillow Talk" and "Down With Love."
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If "The Ugly Truth" gets you in the mood for more battle-of-the-sexes romantic comedies, here are some films to choose from on DVD.
Flirtations and quick-witted banter fly in Howard Hawks' classic "His Girl Friday" (1940). Charles Lederer adapted the screenplay from Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's newsroom comedy play "The Front Page." Rosalind Russell plays Hildy Johnson, a crack reporter who's about to trade her pad and pen for wedded bliss to a hopeless, bland fiancé (Ralph Bellamy). Her editor Walter Burns (the forever swoon-inducing Cary Grant) also happens to be her ex-husband, and he is less than thrilled about losing Hildy to some random dolt. Knowing she can't pass up a juicy story, Walter assigns her one last story involving a convict on the eve of execution. He then employs numerous screwball tactics in an attempt to keep Hildy in town and thwart the impending nuptials. The result is one of the finest and funniest romantic films ever made.
Rom-com dream team Rock Hudson and Doris Day made three films together, but arguably the best is 1959's "Pillow Talk," a relatively wholesome movie brimming with the wink-and-a-smile sexual innuendo typical of the times. Day plays a successful, single interior designer who's forced to share a party line with serial dater Hudson, who's constantly clogging the phone with his many conquests. The two bicker back and forth until fate brings them face to face. A series of charming mix-ups and mishaps keep the couple stewing until they finally consummate their flirtations with a firm hug and the hint of a quality kiss. The film was nominated for several Oscars and won for best original screenplay.
Seemingly discreet romantic comedies like "Pillow Talk" inspired "Down With Love" (2003). Barbara Novak (Renée Zellweger) is enjoying the phenomenal success of her book "Down With Love," which proclaims women should abandon the pursuit of love and instead focus on what truly makes them happy independent of male attention. Popular bachelors like magazine writer Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor) aren't pleased with these newly liberated women. He goes undercover to attempt to woo Novak so he can prove her wrong and write all about it. You can probably guess what happens from there ...
We could go on and on with suggestions for outstanding on-screen battles between the sexes, but we'd rather know which ones you enjoy. Post your favorites here or let us know via e-mail at scarecrow@scarecrow.com
Contributed by Scarecrow Video, 5030 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle; 206-524-8554 or www.scarecrow.com.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
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