Comments on: Which Movie is the Most “Presents”?

By: Sally Clements

Sally Clements — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:14:37 +0000

I reckon Working Girl is the perfedt Modern Heat, Melanie Griffith’s character is ambitious and goes through the perfect arc of being Alex Baldwins girlfriend to self confident woman who knows what she wants, and goes right for it, and Harrison Ford is charmingly alpha, but has an edge of vulnerability ‘why, what have you heard?’ he asks when he thinks people are doubting his ability.
One of my favorites, despite the shoulder pads!

By: Lauren Malmsteen

Lauren Malmsteen — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:50:48 +0000

I’ve come to this discussion late, but I was thinking similar things myself. I recently caught one of the movie versions of The Big Valley and that really struck me as similar. All the men – but particularly Lee Majors – are all very strong and incredibly handsome.

Also before Christmas I caught the remastered version of Star Trek’s The Menagerie. The two episodes had been put together as a cinema release, but with extra CGI effects, etc. As with Big Valley all the men are really masculine and ruggedly handsome – just don’t seem to get that from metrosexual men. Yet the love story between Chris Pike and Veener really seems to fit – if only for pure escapist fantasy. There’s a picnic scene (like Barbie and Ken!), there’s the “rescuing the princess from the tower” episode, and of course there’s the green slave girl who gets rescued by a kindly slave trader.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:14:27 +0000

I know it’s an older movie, but my choice would be ‘That Touch of Mink’ with Cary Grant and Doris Day. Her innocence and his playboy persona, not to mention the humor of the supporting cast, make it one of my faves!

By: Myates

Myates — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 00:56:34 +0000

The reformed alpha might certainly be the heroine’s assistant and help her achieve her dream. They beta up a bit by the end, don’t they? I just couldn’t imagine a true Presents alpha working in the position of PA.

By: lovereading

lovereading — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:20:32 +0000

Interesting comment about “The Proposal,” but actually I disagree with the claim that “no self-respecting alpha would be anyone’s assistant.” If I remember correctly there was some discussion a while back about an author’s (Kate Walker’s?) statement that an alpha male was the ultimate nurturer, empowering and enabling the heroine to achieve her most ambitious dreams. I LIKE the idea of a romance hero as someone who not only accomplishes things on his own but also helps other people reach their goals.

It seems to me this ties in with the question that got asked an entry or two back about what occupations we’d like to see romance heroes engage in. (I mean, aside from the endless string of CEOs and billionaire businessmen! :>) Frankly, I’m more than a little tired of heroes whose work consists of MAKING MONEY. (And then more money. And after that – guess what? – more money.) I understand that there are medical romances but there are many, many professions in this world other than the medical profession that focus on helping others. It would be great to see some heroes whose careers require them to put other people’s needs and desires first. Would a male assistant fit into that category? He certainly would for me. I hope some enterprising author is working on such a manuscript right now because I’d love to read it when it’s finished.

By: Myates

Myates — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:22:34 +0000

Oh yes, Sabrina is a good one. I just saw the Harrison Ford version a couple months ago and it made me want to read the Presents version of it. You know, for a little more passion.

There’s a movie coming out with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds called The Proposal where, in order to keep her visa in the US Sandra proposes a convenient marriage to her assistant. Very good Presents material…if the roles were reversed. No self respecting alpha would be anyone’s assistant, much less be coerced into an engagement!

Still, the plot has appeal!

Maisey

By: anav

anav — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:16:11 +0000

I agree with you Heidi, Clark Gable was definitely an alpha male in that movie

By: Heidi Rice

Heidi Rice — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:17:46 +0000

Good call Shannon, I’d have to agree with you on Pretty Woman. Perfect Presents material (especially the bit where she gets her makeover on Rodeo Drive). And if we’re talking alpha males I’d have to say Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind… surely the most alpha of all alpha males… although of course he did dump Scarlett in the end which perhaps isn’t all that Presents-y

By: MarilynS

MarilynS — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 19:07:17 +0000

I think of An Affair to Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah or Sleepless in Seattle with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan which was I think, based on An Affair.

Another Meg Ryan movie French Kiss also comes to mind.

Amy and Shannon, your choices are also favorites of mine!

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:39:18 +0000

When I think of a “Presents” movie, I think of Pretty Woman (except for the hooker part). It’s a modern day Cinderella where an everyday woman is swept off her feet by a dashing billionaire and not only is she introduced to this glamourous world but she more importantly, she gets the ungetable. The playboy tycoon who doesn’t do love and commitment falls in love and wants the Happily Ever After with her.