25 of the most swoon-worthy romance movies of all time
By Amy Kaplan
An Officer and A Gentleman
Love lift us up where we belong!
This is the quintessential military love story of all time. After this movie, every man wanted to become an officer in the U.S. Navy — and every woman wanted to meet one! This movie came out when I was a baby, and I can’t remember when I saw it for the first time, or how many times I have seen it since, but I can easily say I watch it at least four times a year and it still gives me chills every. single. time.
It tells the story of Zack Mayo (Richard Gere) who has a bad attitude about the military (and life) to say the least. When he signs up for the Navy Aviation Academy, he is met with the strict leadership of Sgt. Emil Foley (Louis Gossett Jr.), who aptly dubs him “Mayonnaise” and becomes his full-time tormentor, turned friend. Through Foley and an unexpected romance with a local factory worker, Paula (Debra Winger), Zack learns some tough lessons and discovers what he truly wants out of life.
But don’t forget your Kleenex. While this is a romance, and an epic one at that, there are some real-life issues that come into play — like suicide, abandonment, trick pregnancies, and fear — all which Zack must come to terms with in order to advance as a man. This movie will teach you something about yourself, or how you interact with other people, and you’ll fall in love with Gere in a way you probably though wasn’t possible.
And don’t shut the movie off early or you’ll miss one of the most iconic movie endings of all time! Who wouldn’t want to get swept off her feet at work and get carried off into the sunset?
Fun Fact: Winger revealed recently that the movie was almost never released!
Release date: July 28, 1982