Love is in the air today, via candy hearts, greeting cards, rose bouquets, intimate dinners and more.
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we offer a look at 14 unforgettable Southern couples whose relationships are immortalized in books, movies, music, TV shows and theater productions. Thanks to pop culture, these romances endure.
Actor Clark Gable as Rhett Butler, kissing the hand of a tearful Scarlett O'Hara, played by Vivien Leigh in “Gone With The Wind.” (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Getty Images
Where we met them: In “Gone With the Wind,” the epic Civil War romance depicted in a 1936 novel by Margaret Mitchell, later transformed into a sweeping 1939 film by director David O. Selznick. The movie features performances by Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, who completely own these characters. Scarlett is a self-centered Georgia belle who finds her mettle tested by the war. Rhett is a rakish adventurer from South Carolina with few scruples but a soft spot for Scarlett.
Why they’re indelible: Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara’s romantic journey pits a strong male character against an equally strong female. But their path to love never runs smooth. This enduring battle of the sexes has an irresistible push-and-pull that keeps us drawn in, waiting to see what happens. Even when you know the ending -- as countless GWTW fans do -- each step in their relationship remains compelling. In the movie version, both characters have exit lines for the ages.
Robin Wright and Tom Hanks in "Forrest Gump." (Paramount)
Where we met them: In “Forrest Gump,” a 1986 novel by Winston Groom that was transformed into a blockbuster 1994 movie by Robert Zemeckis. The film features must-watch performances by Tom Hanks as the title character, a naive Alabamian who unwittingly makes history, and Robin Wright as the troubled vagabond Jenny Curran, Forrest’s true love.
Why they’re indelible: Forrest and Jenny might seem like polar opposites. He’s a simple man. She’s quite complicated. He’s conservative. She’s counterculture. He’s lucky. She’s not. He loves his mama, and with good reason. She hates her daddy, also with good reason. Their lives diverge and converge, but Forrest and Jenny always find a way back to each other. They get along like peas and carrots. Despite their differences, they belong together. It’s a bittersweet love story, and a poignant one.
Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis starred in a 2012 production of "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess" on Broadway. The revival earned 10 Tony Award nominations and won two awards: Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for McDonald.(Michael J. Lutch)
Where we met them: In “Porgy and Bess,” a 1935 folk opera by George and Ira Gershwin, with a libretto by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward. The iconic love story focuses on characters in Charleston, South Carolina, in a poor neighborhood called Catfish Row. Porgy, a disabled beggar, is carrying a torch for Bess, but she barely notices him because of two addictions: her relationship with Crown, a brutal and abusive dock worker, and the “happy dust” she gets from a drug dealer called Sportin’ Life.
Why they’re indelible: Unrequited love is a powerful theme, especially when expressed in gorgeous music by the Gershwins. The English-language opera includes “Summertime,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” “My Man’s Gone Now,” “I Loves You, Porgy” and “Bess, You Is My Woman Now.” As Bess is slowly drawn to Porgy amid troubles and turbulence, we’re drawn in by this star-crossed couple, hoping both of them will find better lives together. “Porgy and Bess” is timeless, as evidenced by theater revivals, movie and TV adaptations, radio plays, concert versions and recordings.
Loretta Lynn and her husband Oliver Lynn Jr. (also known as "Doolittle" or "Mooney") at the Country & Western Music Awards in Hollywood, California, on Feb. 27, 1975.(Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Where we met them: In “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” a 1976 autobiography by country star Loretta Lynn. Her book inspired an award-winning movie that was released in 1980, starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy Lee Jones. Both actors are pitch-perfect as they portray the homespun singer-songwriter from Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, and her freewheeling hubby.
Why they’re indelible: It’s easy to fall in love with Lynn’s real-life, rags-to-riches story. Her relationship with Doo is at the heart of everything, and the plainspoken country star doesn’t hesitate to reveal the ups and downs, joys and frustrations, successes and failures. The two stick together through thick and thin, and when things get mighty thin, Lynn finds inspiration for a country song. The movie soundtrack includes gems such as “I’m a Honky Tonk Girl,” “You’re Lookin’ at Country,” “Coal Miner’s Daughter” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man.”
Where we met them: On “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.,” a CBS sitcom that aired 1964-1969. The series was a spin-off of “The Andy Griffith Show,” starring Sylacauga native Jim Nabors. He played Gomer Pyle, a naive gas-station attendant from Mayberry, North Carolina, who joins the U.S. Marine Corps and becomes the bane of his no-nonsense, short-tempered sergeant. Along the way, Gomer meets a cute nightclub singer named Lou-Ann Poovie (played by Elizabeth MacRae).
Why they’re indelible: It isn’t love at first sight for Gomer and Lou-Ann, but eventually, gentle sparks start to fly. It’s heartwarming to watch their courtship develop on the series, as Gomer serenades Lou-Ann and gets his equally naive sweetheart entangled in various hijinks. Everything is rated G, but that’s part of the appeal.
A roadside romance develops between the Bandit (Burt Reynolds) and the hitch-hiking Carrie (Sally Field) in "Smokey and the Bandit."(Universal Pictures)
Where we met them: In “Smokey and the Bandit,” a 1977 road movie that combined action, romance and comedy. Burt Reynolds portrays Bo “Bandit” Darville, a devil-may-care bootlegger who picks up a runaway bride named Carrie (played by Sally Field) on a Texas-to-Georgia route. As soon as she hops in his Trans Am, Bo runs afoul of Sheriff Buford T. Justice, who starts a hot pursuit. Reynolds and Field also starred in a sequel, “Smokey and the Bandit II.”
Why they’re indelible: Fans can’t get enough of this fast-moving movie, its colorful characters and its rowdy sense of humor. Carrie and Bo’s relationship is an integral part of all that, as the two bicker, bond and develop feelings for each other.
Where we met them: In “The Princess and the Frog,” a Disney movie released in 2009. The animated musical comedy is based on “The Frog Princess,” a 2002 children’s novel by E.D. Baker. Both have origins in a 19th century fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm, “The Frog Prince.” In the Disney film, Anika Noni Rose voices the character of Tiana, and Bruno Campos voices Prince Naveen. She’s a waitress who longs for something more; he’s a prince who’s been transformed into a frog by a witch doctor. The setting is New Orleans, which provides plenty of atmosphere.
Why they’re indelible: A time-honored fairy tale gets an interesting twist in the book and the film. Tiana isn’t a princess, but she’s dressed like one when she meets the prince-turned-frog. Oops! A case of mistaken identity ensues. When Tiana kisses the frog at his request, she turns into a frog herself instead of breaking his spell. That’s the start of their adventures together, and the impetus for a charming love story. The two main characters are equals and they learn and grow together.
Kim Hunter as Stella DuBois and Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski in the 1951 film version of Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire."(Warner Bros.)
Where we met them: In “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a heart-wrenching 1947 play by Tennessee Williams, adapted into a 1951 film by director Elia Kazan. Marlon Brando and Kim Hunter took on two of the key roles in the movie version: Stanley Kowalski, a rough-and-tumble salesman in New Orleans, and Stella DuBois, his adoring wife.
Why they’re indelible: Passion is the glue that binds Stanley and Stella. Their relationship is raw and elemental, at its best when they “make noise in the night” and “get the colored lights going.” Problems arise -- and Stanley’s dark side emerges -- when Stella’s genteel and emotionally fragile sister moves into their squalid apartment in the French Quarter. Yet even when their marriage is threatened, the couple’s physical pull remains strong. Who can forget the scene where Stanley, drunk, disheveled and in need, bellows for “Stella!” when she’s fled to the apartment upstairs? There’s never any doubt that she’ll be back, or what they’ll do when she returns.
Where we met them: In “Jason’s Lyric,” a 1994 movie directed by Doug McHenry, starring Allen Payne as Jason and Jada Pinkett Smith as Lyric.
Why they’re indelible: Jason and Lyric are a 1990s Romeo and Juliet, falling in love despite family feuds and violent strife in Houston, Texas. There’s poetry in their blossoming romance; Lyric tells Jason to “Meet me when the sun leaves footprints across the sky” and it doesn’t sound corny or cheesy. The actors are grounded and believable; they have undeniable chemistry on screen. Although “Jason’s Lyric” has some flaws as a streetwise drama, you won’t find any in the two performances that form the beating heart of the film.
Helen Crump (played by Aneta Corsaut) was the love interest of Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) on "The Andy Griffith Show."(CBS)
Where we met them: On “The Andy Griffith Show,” a CBS sitcom that aired 1960-1968. All the characters are beloved in this classic series set in Mayberry, North Carolina, but we’re focused on folksy lawman Andy Taylor (played by Griffith) and his prim but amiable girlfriend Helen Crump (portrayed by Aneta Corsaut).
Why they’re indelible: The sheriff and the schoolteacher are a love match, easing their way through a careful, small-town courtship. Every warm glance and chaste kiss is a big deal for Andy and Helen, in episodes such as “A Wife for Andy,” “The Rumor,” “Opie Loves Helen” and “Andy and Helen Have Their Day.” Viewers know they’ll get married one day, but Andy and Helen are in no rush. For wholesome swoons, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Where we met them: In “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe,” a 1987 novel by Birmingham native Fannie Flagg. The book was adapted into a 1991 movie, “Fried Green Tomatoes,” directed by Jon Avnet and starring Mary Stuart Masterson and Mary-Louise Parker. Flagg wrote the screenplay with Carol Sobieski. Masterson portrays Idgie Threadgoode, a free-spirited tomboy who becomes attached to the more conventional Ruth Jamison. The two open the Whistle Stop Cafe in Alabama and find some happiness there. The relationship isn’t a simple one, though, and Ruth’s past comes back to haunt them.
Why they’re indelible: Flagg never spells out the nature of Ruth and Idgie’s relationship in her book, but it’s implied that the two are lovers. In the movie version, the women are devoted to each other -- perhaps as friends, perhaps as something more. Either way, Idgie and Ruth are memorable, forging a strong bond through homegrown adventures, adversity and cooking.
Where we met them: In “Hustle & Flow,” a 2005 movie written and directed by Craig Brewer. Terrence Howard stars in the gritty drama as DJay, an aspiring Memphis rapper who makes his living as a pimp and drug dealer. Taraji P. Henson plays Shug, a pregnant prostitute who finds love, and a renewed sense of self, with DJay.
Why they’re indelible: The basic storyline of “Hustle & Flow” might sound stereotypical, but the movie has a street-savvy grace and romantic complexity, courtesy of Brewer’s nuanced script and fine performances by Howard and Henson. DJay’s a tough guy, but he yearns to express himself. Shug understands him, and when she contributes key vocals to the recording of DJay’s first single, the two forge a connection that’s deep and meaningful.
Lula (Laura Dern) and Sailor (Nicolas Cage) are lovers on the run in David Lynch's 1990 movie, "Wild at Heart."(Polygram/Samuel Goldwyn Company)
Where we met them: In “Wild at Heart,” a 1990 film written and directed by David Lynch. It’s based on a 1989 novel by Barry Gifford. Laura Dern and Nicolas Cage star as Lula Pace Fortune and Sailor Ripley, quirky lovers from Cape Fear, North Carolina. They’re on the run from gangsters hired by her mom.
Why they’re indelible: Campy characters take us on a wild ride through oddball situations and surreal mishaps -- this is a David Lynch movie, after all -- but there’s a wellspring of emotion underneath it all. Dern and Cage throw themselves into their roles with abandon, and somehow manage to convince us that Lula and Sailor were made for each other. Weird, but kinda wonderful.
Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas star in "Sweet Home Alabama," a romantic comedy released in 2002.(Touchstone/Buena Vista Pictures)
Where we met them: In “Sweet Home Alabama,” a 2002 movie starring Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas, directed by Andy Tennant. Witherspoon plays Melanie Smooter, a woman from Alabama who’s become a New York sophisticate. Lucas portrays Jake Perry, the small-town husband Melanie wants to shed so she can marry a fledgling politician. When she goes back to her roots to nudge Jake into signing divorce papers, Melanie discovers that her hometown has more appeal than she expected, and Jake might be Mr. Right after all.
Why they’re indelible: “Sweet Home Alabama” is standard rom-com fare, but Witherspoon’s performance elevates the material, making us care about Melanie and her predicament. She’s got sparkle and gumption as the conflicted heroine, and we find ourselves rooting for her to reunite with Jake, so the two can live happily ever after. What’s not to like about that?
The Link LonkFebruary 14, 2021 at 08:16PM
https://www.al.com/life/2021/02/14-southern-couples-in-pop-culture-that-we-simply-cant-forget.html
14 Southern couples in pop culture that we simply can’t forget - AL.com
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