Ode to a sob story

We have all seen them. We sometimes expect that sad ending (Schindlers List [1993], Romeo and Juliet [1996]) and other times we really don't expect that sudden death or heart melting reunion (Vertigo [1958], Little Women). Yes the sob story aka 'Chick Flick aka 'weepie' is firmly imbedded into the psych of all those scarred by memories of Bambi (1942) and Old Yeller (1957), who never trusted the smiling faces of 'family friendly' movies again. But why do we love them? Why is it that the doomed romances and shots fired in a meadow have held us and gripped our hearts for years and years? How is that people still see Romeo and Juliet even though they know every detail? Besides the good looking leads.

i myself have cried at the odd movie, during every version of Little Women i cry without fail, how is it that these characters make you fall so in love with them that you cry as though they were a real person when they leave/die? i'll never get it. Of course, most of us know when we're about to see a sad story, (we all knew what we were getting into when we saw My Sisters Keeper [2009]) so i guess we sort of prepare for it, but a good one will make you cry anyway. It's so strange. I never really watch tragic love stories because they usually depress me, although some leave me in a good mood because at least my love life doesn't suck half as bad as theirs. Thats not the point. i'm trying to do a good post about sob stories and why we like them.

It could be a different reason for all of us. Some of us like them because there's a sort of mystical beauty when you die for love. Others because it could just be a good story. And then there is the sacrifice for love. The ultimate gesture, not to give your own life, but to let the other person be happy without you. Casablanca (1942) brought this great sacrifice to the forefront of cinema, and while there have been movies that have made a good job of it, there is only one Casablanca.

Little Women is a whole different story. for most of the movie we see the girls trying the make do with what they have while trying to get past their own sibling squabbles, like kids/teenagers have done for years and years, very relatable is it not? But then comes the (SPOILER! SPOILER!) death. That rip your heart out moment that makes you realise that this film has made you love it and you didn't even realise it.

I haven't seen that many sob stories, sure like every teenaged girl i'll watch them with friends or see them just so that i know what the hell everyone is talking about. But there are very few that i will actually watch again. i saw 3 versions of Little Women (1933, 1949, 1994) and loved them all, i think i liked the last two most, the 1933 version, while boasting an impressive cast (Katharine Hepburn!!) fell victim to the obvious fact that most of the girls were too old to play their respective parts. Anyway....
I saw Gone With The Wind (1939), i didn't cry at the end but know that i felt tears coming in some parts. to tell you the truth i don't cry in many movies. i held in my tears when i saw Gallipoli (1981), boy was that hard.

I think that no matter what, the greatest sob stories belong to the classic era, sure we have the odd few now and again but there are these things, they're called: 'Class', 'sentiment' and 'memorable'. Anywhere from Chaplin taking the flower but not the money in City Lights (1931) to Sam playing it again (for old times sake) and yep even Cary Grant finding out why Deborah Kerr didn't meet him that day atop the Empire State Building in An Affair To Remember (1957).

The understated sentiment, the tell tale song and warmth of true love conquer all tragic endings. Few will see a movie to see that tragic ending, the people who saw Titanic (1997) surely hoped that that door could support both Jack and Rose, we want the beautiful ending when we're sure it wont happen, but when it does it can be more memorable than any tragic death or forbidden love.

"i love being home, but i don't like being left behind" Beth March (Claire Danes), Little Women (1994)