I was websurfing this week and found frequent visitor Silver’s blog…and a great video that I thought would be fun to play with. (Thanks, Silver! Awesome blog!) BTW, this is totally work safe and you don’t even have to have the sound on.
I love a great screen kiss. I didn’t recognize all of these, but let’s see how many we can get?
Here’s the ones I have or think I have…
1. Pride and Prejudice (you’ve got to love any montage that opens with Colin Firth)
2. Singing in the Rain (and comes in second with Gene Kelly, because I’ve always had a huge crush on the man)
3. Roman Holiday (thanks, KellyR!)
4. Life is Beautiful (I saw this movie, but don’t remember this scene…thanks, katie!)
5. It’s a Wonderful Life
6. Spiderman
7. The Office???? (Perrin thinks…can anyone verify?)
8. Phantom of the Opera (thanks, Mary! I have this Tivo’d…Must! Watch!)
9. Meet Me In St. Louis (I love this movie! I didn’t recognize Judy Garland…thanks, Liza!)
10. Jackie Brown
11. Goodbye Girl
12. Sound of Music (my second old-time crush was on Christopher Plummer)
13. Walk the Line
14. The Country Girl (thanks, Perrin!)
15. Gone With the Wind
16. Breakfast at Tiffany’s? (I’m not sure on this one.)
17. Raiders of the Lost Ark–one of the best kissing scenes EVAH.
18. To Catch a Thief (again, thanks, Kelly!)
19. Some Like It Hot (love how Curtis’s foot goes up when Marilyn lays it on him.)
20. Peter Sellars (according to Mary and I think she’s right)…but what movie?
21. The Notebook (Ardie says…looks like she could be right.)
22. Thomas Crown Affair (thanks, Silver! AGAIN!)
23. Dr. Zviago (which I’m sure I spelled wrong)
24. Back to the Future
25. The Graduate
26. My Girl
27. Empire Strikes Back (again–great kiss, but it is Harrison Ford)
28. ?
29. ?
30. West Side Story
31. Rear Window
32. Titanic
33. Gone With the Wind…with no surprise that this movie is included twice.
Writing a great kiss is hard. Trust me on this, since I’ve written about a gazillion of them. It’s hard to make it fresh and new and emotional…especially in books like mine where the kisses often start off not emotional (well, lust *is* an emotion) but then end up poignant.
This is the first kiss in the book I just finished, which appropriately, will be titled KISS OF THE PHANTOM.
He did not answer. He simply stared at Mariah with an intensity that made her want to punch him in the face. Or cover herself. She still had clothes on, but felt entirely naked to his gaze. But her arms wouldn’t move. Or her legs. She could not turn her head. The seatbelt suddenly tugged tight against her midsection and her blouse pulled across her chest.
“If you work for Velez, I don’t have the money. But I’ll get it. Soon. I have this—”
His quizzical expression cut off her explanation. He had no idea what she was talking about, and yet he stared at her with a curiosity that though not threatening, chilled her to the bone. Again, the sensation of being completely exposed washed over her. It was as if he was looking inside her—as if his mirror-like stare could penetrate not only her clothes, but her very skin.
“Tell me who you are,” she demanded.
He shifted nearer and the unmistakable scent of the forest assailed her. Not just any forest, but the one she’d escaped at Valoren. The sweet aroma of pine, the deep richness of soil, and the musky fragrance of man struck her hard. He said nothing, but stared at her intently, starting at the top of her head and then sweeping downward. Each trail of his gaze over her body ignited a sexual awareness she did not want to feel. She’d never seen this man before. He had no right to examine her so closely. So…intimately.
But she could do nothing to fight him off.
“Please,” she begged, thrown into unknown territory by her utter helplessness. He rewarded her weakness with a smile that showed straight white teeth and then he lowered his mouth over hers in a kiss that defied everything she’d ever known about kisses.
He was gentle, but not shy. Exploratory, but not inexperienced. His mouth tasted of dry, red wine and some exotic fruit—like plum or currant. His lips were warm and his breath intoxicating. She couldn’t fight the instinctual pull to wrap her arms around his shoulders and feel the sinews of his muscles through his shirt, but the moment she could move again, she woke with a start.
I know it looks like a dream…but is it? These are Phantoms we’re talking about. The book will be out next summer!
Can you think of any other great cinematic kisses? Book kisses? (That you’ve written or read?)
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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18. An Affair to Remember. Lurve Cary Grant.
8. Might be Phantom of the Opera.
I know the one right after that too and can’t think of it. Rats. Too early.
21. blue Lagoon???
Sould be fun although i thought we did this over at Trashy Books. Maybe i should go cheat. Silver, did they post this there too????
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I have to check this video out later.
I love Gene Kelly too. For a dancer, he was such a masculine man. As for great kisses other than on the list (didn’t watch the vid yet) I’d add:
1. Pride & Prejudice w/ Keira Knightly
2. French Kiss w/ Meg Ryan & Kevin Kline
3. Wedding Singer w/ Drew Barrymore & Adam Sandler
I loved the kiss between Bella & Z in Lover Revealed(?) Innocent and sensual all at the same time.
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#8 is Phantom of the Opera. Great kiss!
The Cary Grant one was North by Northwest.
Peter Sellers is in #20, but I don’t know the movie.
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That was a great montage and there are so many more that could be added to it, but I can’t think of specifics this early in the morning!
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I really ejoyed the video I’m like you there are some I don’t know but sure would like to
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who cares about the movies, your excerpt was delicious! Where can i get my own phantom???
Lu
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3. looks like Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck
16. Is in fact Breakfast at Tiffany’s with George Peppard
18. To me this looked like the back of Grace Kelly’s head with Cary Grant so I would’ve guessed To Catch a Thief but I’ve only ever seen bits and pieces of the movie.
This was fun. I’ll have to check back later to see if more Plot Monkey friends have revealed the answers.
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What a way to wake up (Colin Firth). I love the Jane Austen kisses because there is usually tension involved and I always go “YES!”.
4.Life is beautiful (the name of the movie).
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The Judy Garland kiss is from Meet Me In St. Louis(either number 9 or 10). I’ll have to watch it again to get some of the ones I missed.
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Great Topic! I love the kiss scenes, on screen or on paper. Especially when there’s a lot of strong chemistry between the hero and the heroine and it’s their first kiss…very emotional. It just fills me up with emotion as well, as if I were actually experiencing the kiss along with them.
Here’s a kiss scene that I wrote…a first kiss between two people who have lots of chemistry between them…
Nathan had wanted to kiss her while they had been on the roof, but he didn’t want Alana thinking he was taking advantage of the situation, especially since they were so close to her king size bed. But now they were downstairs and faraway from her bed…a vision that would tantalize him all the way home. And even though he promised to behave, he wanted so badly to taste her lips. Was kissing really misbehaving? Hadn’t they almost kissed earlier, in the parking lot? After the beautiful day they’d shared and the attraction between them, would she really hold it against him if he kissed her?
Alana turned around and Nathan took her in his arms. Her lips were so sweet and soft. He mingled his fingers in her silky curls. He’d been wanting to run his fingers through those tantalizing curls since he’d first seen her. Lost in heaven was how he felt and all he was doing was kissing her! His tongue tasted her lips, teasingly asking for permission to enter. When they parted and his tongue met hers, his body almost exploded from the electric shock that seemed to be running through him. He couldn’t help but hold her closer to him. Never had he expected kissing her to be this intense. Nor had he anticipated it to be so passionately gratifying. With every stroke of his tongue against hers he became more and more desperate for another and another…it was absolutely mind-blowing!
Alana was experiencing fireworks! It was sensation after sensation as Nathan’s tongue teased hers over and over again, and she fervently matched every stroke, wanting to fuse the two together as ardently as Nathan. She held onto his body, tighter and tighter, for fair she may whither to the floor, completely spent from simply kissing him. It was incredible! She had been wanting this kiss from the beginning, and especially today. But never had she thought it would be such an extraordinary experience. If Nathan stopped kissing her, she was sure she’d no longer be able to breath. He was suddenly her lifeline!
There lips eventually parted, yet the two of them continued to hold onto each other, refusing to let go of the magical spell that had spread over them. Alana was more than content with the strength of Nathan’s arms around her, pressing her into the solid wall of his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder. With their hearts beating wildly against each other, they stood there, completely surprised and bewildered by how overwhelming their kiss had been.
Nathan buried his face in the tips of Alana’s curls, below her left ear, and took in a couple of long breaths, wanting to breathe in her essence. “Oh God, give me strength!” He murmured, before finding her lips and kissing her a second time. The explosion started all over again. At the first touch of theirs tongues, the room seemed to be spinning uncontrollably, and with each continuous stroke it spun wilder and wilder. It was as if they were floating into another dimension. As long as they continued kissing, they could stay like this forever…and life would never be normal again.
But, of course, as marvelous as it would have been, that was not the case. Their lips finally parted once more. Alana rested her face in the most perfect spot…where Nathan’s shoulder and neck came together. It was she who now breathed in his own personal sent. It had felt like time had stood still for them, but they knew eventually they would have to return to the real world. Either that or completely loose themselves in each other. Another kiss like that certainly ran the risk of taking them over the edge.
Nathan somehow managed to remember his promise. Resting his forehead against hers he said, “I need to go now or else not even a cold shower will help me behave.”
Debbie
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Great montage of kissing scenes! Love it!
Here’s one I wrote:
Tess inhaled a deep breath in an effort to ease her shuddering heart and spent emotions. “If it weren’t for your father’s death, I would never have known. As sorry as I am for what happened … I’m glad I found out.”
His eyes filled with challenge. “Are you, Tess? Are you really glad that you found out?”
He moved toward her.
She waited until he stood next to her so she could look him in the eye and drink in his handsome face one last time. After today, she never expected to see him again. Whenever she and Hope got together, Tess made sure Cullinan was never around and to spare her feelings, Hope didn’t mention him.
“Yes, because if she hadn’t I would have married you. We might have even had children before I found out. But you never had any intention of telling me, did you?”
He shook his head and studied her for a moment. “No.” His voice was firm and she knew he meant it. “At least not until I was sure you were truly mine. Mine forever. Then no matter what, I would never have let you go.”
“You wouldn’t have had a choice.”
“There’s always a choice, Tess.” His low, confident tone made her pulse jump erratically.
She stepped away, away from his powerful presence and the profound affect he had on her as a woman. Tess held out her hand. “Give me back my pendant and I’ll never breathe a word to anyone. I’ll tell the police the pendant was mailed to me anonymously.”
With one fluid stride, he yanked her almost violently against him. Tess’s breath trembled in her lungs; her heart throbbed in breathless anticipation. She felt his muscles, his bones, his body heat press hard and rough over her breasts, stomach and thighs. She tried to
pull away when she saw the intent in his eyes but he held her fast and firm. She gave her head a slight shake. “Cullinan… don’t.”
His focused gaze flicked momentarily from her mouth up to her eyes. “Don’t what? Don’t say I never stole from you? Don’t say I never betrayed you? Don’t say I still care about you?” He grasped her chin in one hand and tilted her head upward so she had no choice but
to stare into his eyes. His fingers bit into her delicate skin. “Maybe this will convince you I don’t have your precious pendant.”
He drove his lips over hers, subduing any chance she might have had to resist him. His lips and tongue explored, punished and persuaded. Despite her anger and the shock of his unexpected kiss, a fiery tumult of need careened through her blood. His other hand slipped beneath the hem of her sweater then pushed inside her slacks to squeeze her fanny. Warmth
from his blatant caress sent hot ribbons of arousal burning deep inside her core.
Then just as quickly the spiral of ecstasy Cullinan created ended when he rudely pushed her from his arms. She stood before him with unsatisfied want zipping through her body and buzzing in her ears. Her lips pulsed from his hard, uncompromising kiss while a fog of desire clouded her brain.
With as much dignity as she could possibly muster, Tess straightened her shoulders. She wanted to believe him, but how could she when all the evidence pointed directly to him? Even as tears stung the backs of her eyes and the pain inside her soul intensified, she lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. “I’ll give you one week to turn yourself in and give
me back my pendant. After that, I’m going straight to Abel. I’ll tell him everything.”
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#22 is Thomas Crown Affair, I think. Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. Bit of trivia, Dunaway played the shrink in the remake with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo.
:wub: you, Julie, btw. I’m so totally blown away at the moment! I mean, DUUDE!!!!! I wake up, get coffee, come to check the Jungle and…WHOAH! Thanks, all of you who have or will stop by my little corner. The link takes you to a woefully short page of published works. Click HOME and you’ll go to the main body of the blog.
EV, I…don’t remember that video over on SBTB, but…I’m old and slow and forget things if I’ve slept in between. I sifted through a lot of youtubes to come up with this one. And I’m glad to know that the EV here is the same EV over there. :grin1: :wave: Howdy.
Thanks again, Julie! I’ll be back later after I find a written kiss to share. :love:
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That was a great montage and a wonderful way to start the day…all that love in the air. :wub:
I love the excerpt, Julie. Unfortunately, it just makes me more anxious for the next Phantom books. *sigh*
Thanks for sharing your kiss excerpts also, Debbie and Cher. I definitely enjoyed them.
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I think #18 is To Catch a Thief…I think Kelly’s right…that’s Grace Kelly, not Deborah Carr.
I’m trying to update the list as we speak, but please, keep offering suggestions. That one in the rain (no, it’s not Blue Lagoon) is bothering me because I don’t even recognize the actors! Same with the black and white one near the end.
And hey, where’s the kiss from From Here to Eternity!?
Stacy~ You mentioned the Knightly P&P, which I admit I adored, and all I can think of is…damn, I waited a long time for that kiss! I wanted it longer and more, more, more! Great call.
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Great montage!
One I’d add would be the scene with Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin in the The Big Easy.
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Okay. I’ve got zilch on the rest of the films. Still looking.
Yeah. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. Research. Yup!
Here’s my contribution to the kissing challenge:
Gabe stared at her, unblinking. Mattie shivered at a memory. A school field trip to the zoo. She was eight. A large python slithered along a limb of its glass cage, eyes watching the tiny mouse scampering below its perch. The little white mouse had frozen, frightened eyes glued on the predator. She’d never been back to the zoo. Mattie now knew exactly how that mouse had felt. *I hate snakes!* She shivered again.
He reached for her and she tried not to recoil. His fingertips brushed across her lips, as soft as a rose petal falling into the garden. Mattie’s breath caught in her throat but she didn’t move. She couldn’t move.
“You know I want you,” Gabe whispered. He blinked finally, his eyes hooded briefly by incredibly long lashes.
*That’s so not fair. Why do men always get the great lashes?* Mattie swallowed. Hard. The soft skin under her chin danced with the force of it.
Gabe smiled and leaned down. His lips nuzzled the pulse point of her throat. “You smell like cinnamon,” he whispered against her skin.
“Baking. I was baking.” Had she said that aloud? Her hands fluttered at her sides and she couldn’t control them. They slid around his waist.*Noooo. Must not. Kiss. Him.* This was a battle her brain had already lost. No bad memories. No smart-ass retorts. Nothing her brain could conjure would overwhelm the spell this man’s touch wove around her.
His thumb traced the seam of her lips before he raised it to his lips and tasted it with the tip of his tongue. Mattie blinked, swaying ever so slightly toward him. “You taste like powdered sugar.” His lips quirked in a slow smile.
“Beignets.” She swallowed again. His eyes watched her throat work. Her chest heaved like the heroine’s bosom in some regency romance novel. She didn’t care. She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue.
Gabe leaned down again. His eyes held hers as his tongue followed the same path as her own. If she raised her chin, they’d be kissing. She didn’t have to. His lips touched hers. Gentle. Soft. His arms snaked around her and held her close. His lips firmed, opened. His tongue teased against her lips and teeth. Mattie tilted her head, opened her mouth and let him in. Into her life. Into her heart. In the space of a heartbeat, her whole world tilted on its axis.
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I think #7 is from The Office the British version and #14 is William Holden and Grace Kelley in The Country Girl.
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Perrin, I was thinking the same thing on #7, but I wasn’t entirely sure why a television show would be thrown in when the rest were movies. Good call on #14! I knew it was Holden, but hadn’t seen that movie!
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:wave: Hi Silver!!! :wave:
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After seeing all of those great screen kisses, now I have this song in my head. “Kiss me once and kiss me twice and kiss me once again.” :wub:
Could scene number 21 be from “The Notebook?” What happen to the kiss from Casablanca?
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What a great blog today. Loved the video but the scenes were so quick I couldn’t identify them all! Some of them were from movies I’ve never seen. I recognized William Holden, the scene from Singing in the Rain & many others. Loved the love scenes from Titanic. The scene on the beach with Deborah Kerr in From Here to Eternity should have been included.
Julie, what a tease from a book that isn’t out until next year!! I’m looking forward to it as I loved Phantom Pleasures. Now I will just be thinking about all the different kisses for the rest of my day!!
Thanks to those of you that shared a “kiss” you have written. :lips:
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Oh, Breakfast at Tiffanys is my all time favorite movie!! I love Audrey Hepburn…she is amazing!
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My favorite kiss is with Richard Gere in First Knight – it wasn’t here
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#10 was from Jackie Brown.
I thought #18 was North by Northwest, but I guess Cary Grant didn’t change much throughout the Fifties. Looked more like Eva Marie Saint than Grace Kelly to me.
Would have liked to seen some more brown faces in that montage (was Pam Grier the only one, and I am the only one who knew it???), and like the other reader, I would have loved to have seen From Here to Eternity in there as well.
Maybe those AFI people will put together the 100 best screen kisses?
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Bettye, I thought that was Pam Grier, but I couldn’t place the movie. Thanks. I’ll add it to the list!
I’m thinking that some of these movies are pretty obscure if no one has been able to recognize them!