Friday 15 April 2011

Make Me Cry

It’s happy endings that make me cry, especially in films.


I can remember one of the very first films I cried at – an old film about the San Francisco earthquake (with Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Jeannette Macdonald). At the end, when they’re all camped out above the burning city, a boy runs up the hill shouting ‘The fires are out!’ and they march to the top of the hill, look out over the ruined, smouldering city and sing ‘San Francisco, open your Golden Gate …’ well, I’m in floods of tears!

Another film which ALWAYS makes me cry, even though I’ve seen it many times, is ‘Apollo 13’. The astronauts, after an agonising wait, finally break the radio silence. Years ago, I watched it actually happening on TV and cheered. But in the film, it’s the reactions of all the families and the Houston crew that make the tears flow, every single time!

I cried at the end of ‘The Incredible Journey’ when Shadow, the golden retriever, eventually appeared. I cried when Hugh Jackman found Nicole Kidman after Darwin had been bombed in ‘Australia’. For heavens’ sake, I even cried at the end of ‘Toy Story 3’ when the toys found a happy new home!

I cry at the end of ‘Carousel’ when Billy makes his peace with Julie, I cry when the family escape to safety over the mountains in ‘Sound of Music’, I cry when Emile re-appears at the end of ‘South Pacific’– in fact, a lot of musicals make me cry.

If a reader ever tells me that the happy ending of any of my books has made them cry (for happiness, I mean!), then I’ll know I got it right!

What movie or book has made you cry?

11 comments:

  1. movies don't make me cry but sometimes over the top commercials do.

    -mood
    Moody Writing

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  2. Commercials? That's a new one! Don't think any commercial has made me cry, mood.

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  3. Bridges of Madison County. I've just finished listening to it as an autio book read by the author Robert James Waller. I stood in my kitchen crying it was so sad. I've now bought the book and the dvd to see if it does the same.

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  4. Hi Jamara
    Not read it or seen the movie, but if it's a weepie I'll put it on my list.
    Thanks for visiting!

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  5. Hi,

    Any movie with an animal that dies or one who becomes a hero/ine gets me every time. And, yeah, the odd romancde has caused tears to brim. But, I shamelessly admit to crying while watching the end of "Silent Running": robots of all things! ;)

    best
    F

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  6. A better question for me is probably, "What movie did NOT make you cry?" LOL I'm a huge softie and if there's a scene that pulls on your heartstrings, I tend to get yanked right off the couch! :)

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  7. Toy story three was rather depressing. I really liked Apollo 13, but I know what you mean about how upsetting it is!

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  8. Not sure I could cry about robots, Francine, but hey, I cried over toys, so who knows?


    Jeffrey, I love a man who admits he's a big softie. Welcome to my world!

    Emily, I was on the edge of my seat when the toys were heading for the furnace, and it's the same when I watch Apollo 13 (even though I KNOW how it ends!)

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  9. Beaches was always a tear-jerker for me, and Disney movies tend to do it, too, not just Toy Story 3. I watched Bambi with my daughter the other day and got all choked up when the poor little quail panics and takes flight, only to be shot down.

    Good luck on the rest of the A to Z Challenge!

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  10. Hi Paula .. rather more than I care to think about - as I'm an emotional 'silly' .. the little drops just drip out so often!!

    Books do it sometimes too .. the total emotion creeeps in - which is good all round .. some stories too ...

    We all must react slightly differently to the story line .. yet the tears come! Cheers Hilary

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  11. I've found a lot of it depends on my mood at the time. If I'm down when I go into watching a sad movie, I'm likely to bawl my eyes out!

    Hugs,

    Rach

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