![]() He really wanted to work with her and pitched several romcom ideas to her, which led to lots of discussion of the differences between how men and women approach love and sex. The film was written by Nora Ephrom after she met and befriended Rob Reiner. Maybe that’s because the crux of the film is centred around timeless issues – friendship and love. It really does have a contemporary air about it which many other romcoms have failed to hold on to as they have aged. When Harry Met Sally… feel like it could have been made any time from the late 90s onwards. Rob Reiner’s direction and probably more importantly, Nora Ephrom’s script, have a timelessness to them. As it’s set over a long stretch of time (from the mid-70s to an unspecified date at the end of the film – probably early-to-mid 90s) the film kind of works as a period piece. If it wasn’t for one or two fashion and haircut choices, you’d never know this was made so long ago. However, watching it again last night – which is maybe only the second, perhaps third, time I’ve seen it, I began to notice what makes it rather special.įirst off, it’s not like other 80s romcoms. We’ve just celebrated our twenty fifth wedding anniversary a week ago (yes, I was but a mere child when I got married. I liked it well enough but didn’t think it was amazing. She had it on VHS nad invited me round to hers to watch it one time in a double bill with another of her favourite films, Pretty In Pink. I wouldn’t see it for about another five years when I started dating someone who absolutely loved it. I didn’t see it when it came out – fourteen year old me was far more interested in Arnie and Police Academy films at the time. I don’t really have such an emotional connection with this film. Many of these films I’ve looked back at, such as The Terminator, Aliens or The Blues Brothers hold special meaning for me as there’s a fun story surrounding the first time I saw it. ![]() The cafe is still, over thirty years on, visited by diners intent on acting their favourite scene out – and Katz’s welcomes it with open arms. Katz’s Deli in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where the scene was shot, still pays homage to the film by having a sign pointing out the table where it happened. What could have been a fairly dully scene became, completely by accident, one of the great romantic comedy moments. The “I’ll have what she’s having” line was delivered by Reiner’s mother, Estelle, and that dialogue was also a last-minute insertion, suggested by Crystal. He went through almost thirty pastrami sandwiches which he later said in an interview was a lot for any Jew. Crystal, however, eats his lunch during Sally’s performance. Ryan just had to perform the fake orgasm, followed by immediately chomping on a forkful of coleslaw. Her co-star Billy Crystal also suffered for his art. She also didn’t realise before volunteering that it would be acted out in a crowded cafe – an experience she found quite daunting. A decision she would soon come to regret as director Rob Reiner shot multiple takes. However, Meg Ryan volunteered to act it out rather than just talk about it. And in keeping with that very wordy theme, this scene was intended to be just a witty discussion over lunch. ![]() Talking things over is a major plot point. When Harry Met Sally… is very much a film about talking. But it almost didn’t happen that way at all. So Sally, in the middle of a busy Manhattan diner, decides to prove that fake ones can be as realistic as actual ones.Įnsue much uncomfortable hilarity followed by one of cinema’s great punchlines. Sally disagree and tells him that all women have faked it at one time or another. The idea is this Harry (Billy Crystal) believes that he has always “satisfied” every woman he’s ever been with. Even the lovely Meg Ryan has a sex face, it appears! So – let’s quickly discuss the famous orgasm scene and move on (Please do, Ed). I’m a polite chap and being British, talking about, er, the art of romance (I thought you said you were going to get to it quickly, Ed) – OK sex – talking about sex in public is not something I’m usually comfortable with. Yes, I’m going to get the elephant in the room out of the way quickly. This week’s film is no exception, although it also contains one of the 80s – nay all of cinema’s – great comic scenes. In the last instalment, I talked a bit about how these films we’ve been following week-on-week are eminently quotable. This week Paul Childs investigates whether men and women truly can be friends without hanky panky getting in the way (Er… I think you might be disappointed with this one boss, PC) with one of the most recent films on our list – 1989’s When Harry Met Sally… Welcome back friends, for another #80sMC adventure.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |