The second installment of a four-part series with my favorite romance films, at least as I see it.

15. Woman of the Year (1942) – The first of nine Spencer Tracy/Katherine Hepburn films, this comedy has Hepburn as a well-bred political journalist working at the same newspaper as Tracy, an old school sportswriter. The couple feud via their respective columns which eventually turns into romance and marriage, with predictable culture shock. The best scene is when Tracy takes Hepburn to her first baseball game. Available on DVD.

14. Sid and Nancy (1986) – Biopic about Sex Pistols punk rocker Sid Vicious and his destructive relationship with groupie Nancy Spungen. Gary Oldman makes a great Vicious, while Chloe Webb portrays a screeching, whining, drug addicted Spungen. No sentimentality in this film; it’s pretty raw and disturbing. Sex Pistols’ singer John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) was incensed at what he viewed as a total misrepresentation of Vicious, himself and just about everything else involved with the film. Available on VHS and DVD.

13. Marty (1955) – Timeless film about peer pressure, loneliness and desperation, starring Ernest Borgnine as a Bronx butcher looking for love. Winner of four Academy awards, including Best Picture and Borgnine as Best Actor. It’s one of those films that people of any age can relate to. The final scene is great; this is one of my picks that may actually show a sensitive side. Available on VHS and DVD.

12. Coming Home (1978) – One of a slew of early post Vietnam films, paraplegic veteran Jon Voight and volunteer nurse Jane Fonda fall in love in spite of Fonda’s devotion to her returning veteran husband Bruce Dern. One of the first films to deal with topics like the plight of handicapped veterans and post traumatic stress syndrome. Voight and Fonda, both outspoken critics of the Vietnam War, won Oscars. Available on VHS and DVD.

11. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) – Audrey Hepburn’s most memorable role as Holly Golightly, a free spirited New Yorker. The film is carried by Hepburn, it doesn’t really hold much interest as far as plot goes, that’s how good she is. There is a ridiculous portrayal of a Japanese man by Mickey Rooney of all people, that would be considered politically incorrect today. In fact, it was back then too. And I believe most people got more teary-eyed over Holly finding her cat than true love. Available on VHS and DVD, including a Centennial edition that is remastered in high definition.