Or Why I Love to Cry at Movies

Last night…late last night I was flipping through the 400 channels of nothing on cable TV when I spotted a familiar scene from a old movie. It was the last 10 minutes of one of my favorite ‘tearjerkers’, Imitation of Life, starring Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, Sandra Dee, Susan Kohner and John Gavin.

I will not bore you with the details of the old fashion plot line. and if you have never seen this 1959 melodrama, I am sorry for the spoiler. But the last scene of Annie’s (Juanita Moore) funeral makes me cry every time. How can you help yourself? This is a funeral to rival that of JFK and Princess Diana, complete with horse drawn carriages, teary-eyed mourner, and a Dixieland band. Mahalia Jackson singing a tragic gospel song about dying, Lana Turner and Sandra Dee balling their eyes out and being comforted by a misty-eyed John Gavin. There is also every other person that appeared in the movie crying like babies because they loved her so much. But where is Annie’s beloved, ungrateful daughter, Sarah Jane?

Cut to the outside of the church where throngs of people watch Annie’s flower covered coffin being loaded into the herst. Then, from out of the crowd you hear her. Wearing an old beat up coat and hat, looking downtrodden and bedraggled. It’s Sarah Jane, coming home at last, but too late to see her long-suffering mother being laid to rest. She pushes her way through the crowd, throws open the back doors of the car and (this is part that always gets me) lays herself across her mother’s coffin to beg her forgiveness. “Oh mama, I’m sorry. It’s so sorry… John Gavin brings her into the car where she is comforted by Lana Turner…”Oh Miss Laura, I killed my mother“. (excuse me, I need a minute…Ok, I Ok now).

I know this is schmaltz at it best/worst. But sometimes a girl just needs to cry and they just don’t make sad movies like this any more. It gave me the idea for this blog. A place for movies that women love. The romantic comedies, the tearjerkers, the fairytale fantasies, the movie that stars a gorgeous man. All them them in one place. What do you think? So in honor of the many tears I have shed at the movies, here is my list of the saddest chick flicks. Your ideas are welcome. What movies bring a tear to your eyes?

Get out your tissues,  here is the list of my favorite tearjerkers. I have also updated the list to include some suggestions from reader comments.

1.   Stella Dallas
Barbara Stanwick is wonderful as the tacky, but self-sacrificing mother.

2.  Imitation of Life
Two mothers from different walks of life struggle to raise their daughters.

3.  Madame X
Another Lana Turner movie and more mother’s love.

4.  Now Voyager
Bette Davis goes from old maid to gorgeous and finds love at last.

5. Dark Victory
Bette Davis as a spoiled socialite who falls in love with a country doctor.

6. Secret Life of Bees
Dakota Fanning is all  grown up and shines as a girl who longs for the mother who died when she was a baby. (Are we seeing a theme here? Tearjerkers & mothers)

7. Cinema Paradiso
A loving tribute to movies and the power of love. A must see for movie lovers.

8. Beaches
BFFs Bette Midler and Barbara Hersey  meet as children and continue their friendship as adults and go through life’s ups & downs together.

9.   My Dog Skip
An only child gets a dog who becomes his best friend. Let me just tell you, I saw this movie one Sunday afternoon about three week after having lost my little dog. I cried so hard, I had a headache.

10. Big Fish
Finally one about fathers and sons. Tim Burton’s fantasy still brings a tear to my eye. The great British actor Albert Finney stars with Billy Crudup.

11.  The Notebook (added by Amanda)*
The novels of Nicholas Sparks are always to be read with a box of tissue. The say can be said for his movies. Although the book Message in a Bottle was better than the movie, it is still worth renting.

12.  Terms of Endearment *

13.  Mr. Holland’s Opus*

14.  Bridges of Madison County
Meryl Streep as a lonely Midwestern housewife who falls for Clint Eastwood. The scene in the car at the red light…that’s all I’m going to say.

15. Schindler’s List

16.  Glory
This one always make men cry. “Oh yeah…you’re not crying, you just have something in your eye.”

17.  Notting Hill (added by Diane Lee)
You know how I feel about Julia Roberts.

18.  Moulin Rouge (added by Windy)
It is a sad chick flick, not to mention the fact that it is a musical. But is not one of my favorites. Although the song “Come What May” at the end of the movie is worth it.

19.  Bambi (added by Gwen)#
Does anyone in a Disney movie have both parents?

20. Old Yeller#
See #9. So you know this one will send me reaching for the Advil.

21.  Where The Red Fern Grows#

22.  Romeo & Juliet (1968 Zeffirelli version)#
I saw this movie with a large group of friends, including my weepy cousin Gloria.  She cried so loud, I thought she was having a seizure. She did the same thing for Love Story.

23. Kramer vs Kramer#

24.  The Color Purple #

25.  Terms of Endearment #

26.  Legends of The Fall #

27.  It’s A Wonderful Life #
I love Jimmie Stewart. They always play this movie at Christmas time, but is more about appreciating our lives than about the holiday.

28.  Steele Magnolias #

29.  Life Is Beautiful #

30.  P.S. I Love You
Like Ghost, this movie shows us a love that surpasses death and Gerard Butler is much better in this movie than in The Ugly Truth.

31.

Dry your eyes and tell me your favorite tearjerkers?

New week: To lift your mood and bring a smile to your face. Happy Endings. “And They Happily Ever After” Movies.

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