These photos warm my cold, dead heart. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal reunited last night in LA for a big 30th anniversary event/screening of When Harry Met Sally. There are so many anniversary-film events this year, right? I read several thinkpieces about the 30-year anniversary of Heathers too. Anyway, Billy and Meg always got along famously, and they exist together in the cultural zeitgeist as Harry and Sally. It’s cute that they both showed up for this.
Many people consider WHMS to be one of the best romantic comedies ever made. I never did – I was just a kid when it came out, and I remember watching it at the time with my mom and not understanding why they ended up together. I thought Harry was a douche and I thought Sally could have done better, and honestly, as I’ve gotten older, I STILL think that. Think about it – she’s an adorable blonde (who is slightly neurotic and very romantic) and he’s a bitter curmudgeon who treats her like sh-t after they sleep together. It’s awful that they end up together. The superior love story in that movie was the B-story between Marie (Carrie Fisher) and Jess (Bruno Kirby). Go ahead and @ me, I don’t care. I will die on this hill: When Harry Met Sally isn’t even a top-ten rom-com. I think it was so popular at the time because it was a novel concept: two people who had an easy friendship for years and then they end up falling in love. People wanted to believe.
Another hill I’ll die on: You’ve Got Mail is a love story to capitalism, not a love story between Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. There, I said it. The economics of that film are actually quite disturbing. As for Sleepless In Seattle… I mean, I love that movie, but I always feel sorry for Bill Pullman’s character, because he’s an amazing guy.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Shop Around the Corner (1940) was the inspiration for You’ve Got Mail – and I loved that movie. It’s been ages since I’ve watched it, though – I went through a kick of watching old movies when I had my wisdom teeth out as a teen and I just genuinely found it amazingly charming.
I’ve never actually watched When Harry Met Sally (it came out before I was born – though it’s a weak argument when I’ve watched 1940s movies) but I always here it considered as a classic romcom.
I didn’t know that, my new goal this weekend is to watch Shop Around The Corner!
It’s awesome, so much better than the remake
WHMS came out the year I was born and it’s my favorite movie! If you like rom coms, I strongly recommend it.
The Shop Around the Corner is one of my all time favorite movies. I love Jimmy Stewart and Ernst Lubitsch made some great films in addition to TSATC. The 1949 musical In the Good Old Summertime with Judy Garland and Van Johnson is also a remake of Shop. In that one they’re working in a music store.
I’m old enough to have seen many classics first run, but I thank whatever powers that be for TCM and its devotion to keeping old films alive. And, for anyone interested, the Criterion Collection has just launched its own channel.
I love You’ve Got Mail. If it’s on, I’ll watch it no matter what.
ETA: Honestly, just the mention of it makes me want to drop everything and watch it. It’s rainy today, perfect You’ve Got Mail weather.
Me too! I would love to own “The Shop Around the Corner” bookstore…
My dream would be the bookstore from The Shop Around the Corner combined with the bakery from Its Complicated. Of course they are both Nancy Meyers films and I always love the set decorations of her movies.
I adore You’ve Got Mail! Joe Fox reminds me so much of my husband. Just his general demeanor and the way he handles things. That’s my excuse for watching that movie dozens of times, haha.
Same. I watch it every fall and while it shows its age more and more, it’s starting to get into the charming nostalgia category now.
I love it, too (one of my most quoted movies), but now when I watch it I’m so sad that Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby & Nora Ephron are gone. It’s really bittersweet – they all died too soon.
We need to talk about this on the podcast!
Yes, we can!
Given the story line, I should hate You Got Mail. But I just can’t. I love it so much.
Same with Overboard. Absolute garbage story line. But with Goldie, Kurt, and even the kids, I can’t hate it. I love that movie and watch it whenever it’s on.
Overboard (original one!) was *such* a fun movie! Vintage Goldie movies are so good. One of my favs was “House Sitter” with her, Steve Martin, and Dana Delaney.
Try Foul Play with Chevy Chase. Goldie and he had great chemistry.
Private Benjamin, oh yes.
HouseSitter is awesome!
SPOILER ALERT
When Dana Delaney leans into that fireplace… And I love Steve Martin.
House Sitter is underrated, IMO. The supporting cast in that is great, as well as Martin and Hawn, two of my faves.
and OH. MY. GAWD Foul Play is one of the funniest movies. “Kojak? Bang bang?”
and if you like Foul Play, Seems Like Old Times is pretty funny, too.
ETA: this is the best I’ve seen Meg Ryan look in a LONG time.
Carrie Fisher was absolutely the best part of WHMS. She was so gorgeous.
Yes. Yes and YES. Thank you lassie for reminding me! Dang, makes me miss Carrie more—as if that was even possible.
yes. she was gorgeous and hilarious and natural. i think that is the most indelible part of the film is that the acting is just very natural. no one is chewing up the scenes. it is pitch perfect.
i re-watched this recently and i think it is truly iconic. the dialogue is perfect. and it is paced perfectly. some of the smaller scenes, particularly with carrie fisher just kill me.
i also never realized that billy crystal was very handsome during this movie.
LOVED her in that movie. Perfection.
Yes! Always thought that B plot was the better love story too.
I really enjoy the movie overall though, and that’s as someone who didn’t watch it until 5 or so years ago?
I didn’t love When Harry Met Sally either back in the day, for all the reasons you said. I feel like one of the reasons it was such a sensation was because of the one scene in the diner and even that wasn’t as great as people seem to think it is, lol. But is it nice they both showed up for this.
I’m fascinated by Meg’s face. From some angles I see her old face but from others I see Courteney Cox, especially around the eyes.
WHMS was just on tv last night. Kaiser, I have to disagree with you: I LOVE(D) all those movies lol The dialogue was great, the actors even better… just fun movies. If you want another great Bill Pullman movie, check out “While You Were Sleeping”, with him, Sandra Bullock and Peter Gallagher (in a coma for most of it lol). THAT is a really good one!
While You Were Sleeping is one of my Top 10 rom-coms honestly
WHMS is literally my favorite movie. The best. I’m a big rom com fan (not so much of the ones right before they stopped making them for awhile, but am very pleased with the recent resurgence!). WHMS always struck me as a movie that is just genuinely very funny.
I do agree that Jess & Marie are the true love story. And every time that our friends are complaining about dating, I just look at my husband and say, “tell me I’ll never have to be out there again.”
” The superior love story in that movie was the B-story between Marie (Carrie Fisher) and Jess (Bruno Kirby).”
Yes! I have always seen it this way. I wish the whole film had been about them. But this just reminded me that Bruno died long ago, years before Carrie, and now I honestly feel like crying. How can it even be that this much time has passed so fast?
“The superior love story in that movie was the B-story between Marie (Carrie Fisher) and Jess (Bruno Kirby).”
YES! I have always thought this as well! They were ADORABLE!
And yes Harry was definitely douchey. There was nothing attractive about that dude at all.
RIP Estelle Reiner, Carl’s mom. Her “I’ll have what she’s having” is one of the funniest scenes in movie history.
Never got WHMS either but loooove Sleepless in Seattle (even though its a bit stalkery- reverse the characters). Also Bill Pullman would STILL GET IT … He was on Graham Norton last week and DAYUMM!!
20 years for Heathers, um no, it came out in 1989 so it’s 30 years too. I’m thinking it was a typo not intention…unless you’re talking about reading about it 10 years ago…
I’ll just say this, I don’t know that I’ve seen so much botox and fillers in one photo before (excluding all things Kardashian of course).
WHMS is very relatable to almost every single couple I know. Friends that became lovers, that broke up and then got back together type thing. Two people learn that what they love about each other is all the imperfections that drive everyone else batty. Maybe it’s a Gen X thing, we’re suckers for quirky romance.
I love WHMS but I saw it at the perfect time for me. My take away is whenever Sally was with guys who were perfect on paper, she wasn’t truly happy. Some women have a hard time learning to accept that they’re attracted to the not great on paper quirky guy who just sparks something inside them, whether it be wit, intelligence or sarcasm. I know a lot of women who finally did end up with these guys. But I agree Harry was very annoying and Jess and Marie definitely made that movie, loved them!
WHMS a very enjoyable movie.
Just a thought on this pic…could either of them dial back on the hair color?
I understand not wanting to look washed out by totally grey hair but, let some of your natural color show. Billy is 70+, looks good but his hair is just too dark.
Carrie F. was so naturally pretty in her youth, so was adorable in WHMS.
The line “tell me I’ll never have to go out there again” and the wagon wheel coffee table scene are still relatable and funny.
Might need to rewatch WHMS again. 🙂
Okay, so for you Shop Around the Corner Folks … there is a fantastic, privately owned Bookstore in Manchester. It is attached to a coffee shop/bakery AND a jewelry store!! Our family drove down from Canada for some back to school shopping. I have NEVER seen such gorgeous, lovely outlet stores. There is something to be said for vacationing among the wealthy. At any rate, the most amazing bookstore EVER!!!!!
Meg Ryan always always wears clunky ortho shoes.
And bless her for it!
Kaiser, you don’t have a “contact us” section so this is the only way I can share. I had a great idea. What if you did vintage gossip once in a while? I was inspired when I read about Patricia Arquette and Nic Cage’s relationship/marriage in the 90s. I had totally forgotten about that!! It was such a lovely trip down memory lane and the pictures were fantastic!! They were so gorgeous!! I thought maybe a throwback Thursday vintage gossip with pictures could be fun.
Keep fighting the good fight! We need you! xoxoxoxoxo
I second this idea!
I third it! I’ve thought it for a while, because I forget all those old gossip stories…like everyone Gwenyth Paltrow or JLo dated.
Cosign! The vintage gossip is always such fun, and the photos are awesome.
Agree that it is a love story to capitalism, that always bothered me a bit.
Yes, a kindred spirit!! I didn’t like WHMS either and totally agree with you.
I think Meg Ryan’s best rom-com is French Kiss. I love that movie.
Addicted to Love is my second favorite.
+1 for Addicted to Love but I like all the Meg Ryan rom coms. I can (and do to myself mostly) quote You’ve Got Mail.
Daisies will always be the friendliest flower.
I don’t usually watch romantic comedies but I love WHMS. I watch it every Christmas. It’s just perfect.
Love WHMS even though individually they’re not great people. But somehow together, they work… I didn’t enjoy You’ve Got Mail or Sleepless I’m Seattle as much but yes to the set decoration of Nancy Meyers’ movies. I drool every time I see the beach house Diane Keaton lived in in Something’s Gotta Give. Same with It’s Complicated. I find the way women are written in those last 2 movies pretty annoying. They’re rambling, neurotic, and full of anxiety. It’s over the top.
I love all three movies you mentioned, though I can see flaws in each. For Sleepless, I love that Bill Pullman’s character is a great guy, and I love his final comment to her about marriage being hard enough without low expectations. For You’ve Got Mail, I love that she doesn’t magically get to keep the bookstore. She loses it, and he gets to read her frank comments about how it is like losing her mother again. For When Harry Met Sally, I love when he calls her about new years and she tells him she won’t be a consolation prize. Yes, he had been a jerk many times, but I always thought that comment woke him up to how he was treating her. None of the movies is perfect, but all make me happy. I miss good rom coms!
I could never get past the age difference in WHMS. It completely took me out of the story. My fave rom-coms are Notting Hill and While You Were Sleeping. Both movies have aged incredibly well. I watched them with my kids not too long ago, and they loved them, too.
Meg Ryan’s best rom com is French Kiss, but I’ll always love WHMS.
I LOVE French Kiss!
Charades–“Baby fish mouth!” That’s all I got.