In the 1930's one of the main genres of popular films was the musical, which allowed for spectacular singing and dancing numbers and elaborate sets. In 1935 RKO released Top Hat featuring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, who were considered to be the ultimate romantic couple. Renowned for their graceful dance moves, catchy show tunes, and on screen chemistry, Fred and Ginger captured the hearts of many Americans over and over again in each one of their films. In her reading, "Romantic Love, Changing Marriage Norms, and Stars as Behavioral Models", Virginia Wright Wexman discusses the Hollywood "creation of the couple" as a formula: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. This was an important convention in the success of many Ho

In 1934, Columbia Pictures released one of director Frank Capra's most famous films, It Happened One Night, starring Clark Gable as Peter Warne and Claudette Colbert as Ellie Andrews, as the charming and unlikely couple. In this romantic comedy Wexman's noted Hollywood convention is followed, but the overall theme is of a love separated by social class/differences, which is overcome in the end. Examples of modern movies that reflect the theme of a love divided by social class/differences are Titanic (1997), Monster's Ball (2001), and Sweet Home Alabama (2002). Each of these movies deals with the couple appearing in different aspects of society, however they find common interests among themselves despite their social standing. In the end love overcomes their differences and brings each together in a romantic love story.

In Casablanca, the formula for the couple is slightly different and is more like boy-meets- girl, boy-loses-girl, boy-gets-girl, boy-loses-girl-again. Casablanca did not follow the idealistic cinematic romantic ending, however it followed the classic romantic ending of two lovers being separated. A love and a bond between the two characters was created, and in a selfless act of romantic sacrifice, their love must be broken. It is this which makes Casablanca one of the most timeless, classic, love stories to ever be filmed. Contemporary films that mirror this romantic ideal successfully are Moulin Rouge (2001) and The Titanic (1997). In both of these films the couple is separated by unforeseen obstacles, but their love is not broken.

The story unfolds and it is through a series of wrong turns and odd twists that Dale falls in love with Jerry, but has suddenly mistaken him for that of a married man. Without a formal introduction between the two of them, they never knew each other's names. Dale, who now feels that her heart has been toyed with is upset and confused. Jerry, who is oblivious to what is going on can't understand her cold front that she has put back up. What really describes the love between Dale and Jerry is the singing and dancing sequences, that occur in major developments in their relationship. In the first dance number they meet, in the second they fall in love, in the third their love seems hopeless, and then in the last they are celebrating their love. It is through their dancing that the true, romance is captured and their love shows. Finally after misconstrued ideas, rash acts, and many miscommunications, everything begins to unfold and the puzzle is solved. Dale and Jerry not only can appreciate their love, they end the story in marriage, leaving audiences sighing with satisfaction. Wexman dis

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Approximate Word count = 1802
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)