Related Terms:

Scope Note:

Fictional work focusing on an affectionate relationship between two people, whether in courtship or marriage, and set in modern or historical times. The lovers often face obstacles of family, occupation, money, or social class that may imperil their permanent union. There are also the difficulties of day-to-day compatibility, temptation, and infidelity. The plot climaxes either on overcoming, or failing to overcome, these difficulties. Note: Unlike the conventional appearance of romantic subplots in many genres, romances concentrate on the love story as the main conflict. Stories concentrating on the relationship among the family, as opposed to the lovers, would belong under Family, while those emphasizing the female character would be classified under Women. For romantic comedy, use Screwball comedy, Sophisticated comedy, or Romance in conjunction with Comedy. Feature examples: AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER; THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (with Historical; Adaptation); LA BETE ET LA BELLE / BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (with Fantasy; Adaptation); BHOWANI JUNCTION (with Historical; Adaptation); THE BITTER TEA OF GENERAL YEN; BRIEF ENCOUNTER; CASABLANCA (with War; Adaptation); DODSWORTH (with Adaptation); DR. ZHIVAGO (with Historical; Adaptation); HIROSHIMA MON AMOUR; LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING (with Adaptation); LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME (with Musical; Gangster; Biographical); LOVE STORY (with Adaptation); MARTY (with Adaptation); PICNIC (with Adaptation); A PLACE IN THE SUN (with Adaptation); THE RAINS CAME; RANDOM HARVEST (with Adaptation); ROMAN HOLIDAY; SEVENTH HEAVEN (with Adaptation); THE SHEIK (with Adaptation); THE WHITE SISTER (with Religious; Adaptation); WUTHERING HEIGHTS (with Adaptation; Melodrama). TV examples: ANYTHING BUT LOVE (with Situation comedy); LOVE--AMERICAN STYLE (with Situation comedy); LOVE BOAT; SCENER UR ETT AKTENSKAP / SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE.

Subject Categories: