Cinematical

Margo Channing & Bill Sampson, yo.

What's required is like a little steam engine of inquisitiveness - that each half of the couple never stops learning something from the other. Passion, too, even if in the form of conflict...

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For my money, mutual respect coupled with the mild irritant of strong personalities/intellects makes for the best and longest-lasting movie chemistry. The gold standard for this is Tracy/Hepburn, but Cary Grant was also outstanding with Hepburn, as he was with a number of his co-stars. And, of course, under the doomed couple category, you can't beat Garbo/Gilbert. Even long after their private relationship cooled, they could still generate sparks.

Of modern couples, I can't really come up with any real stand-outs. Just because two stars may be getting it on in private neither interests me nor generates much actual screen chemistry (oddly enough). On the small screen Anderson/Duchovny had considerable chemistry despite real life aloofness towards each other. Most actors these days have their heads shoved so far up their own asses they only have eyes for themselves. Howzat for mixing metaphors! With the dearth of actual relationships in films, there's not much to go on anymore. Chemistry has become a guy/guy thing.

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Nick and Nora Charles! Nobody watches The Thin Man for the mystery... Myrna Loy and William Powell created a sparkling couple who are not only deeply in love, they seem to genuinely like each other too. If I had to inhabit one movie marriage I would definitely pick theirs :-).

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It's me again. And ya know, I find it kinda sad that my all-time favorite movie couples are usually found in "classic" movies rather than in more contemporary films.

Totally agree with Rhett/Scarlett and Rick/Ilsa. And would add the following:

Garbo and Gilbert, who sizzled in "Flesh and the Devil" - yes, they did - but also charmed in "Queen Christina" especially in that lovely scene in the inn in which Gilbert suddenly realizes that the "young man"he has befriended is actually a lovely young WOMAN. Whoa! (And btw, this film is evidence that Gilbert's voice was NOT too high and squeaky for the talkies. Hah!)

William Powell and Myra Loy in The Thin Man (and the sequels, though none except "After The Thin Man"even came close to the original). Snark to spare, but no one can doubt that these two are made for each other!

Bette Davis and Paul Henreid in "Now, Voyager." Another example of a bittersweet ending, but damn, I love this movie and these two star-crossed lovers, Charlotte Vale and Jerry Durrance. Soooo romantic without being all about the clinches. And that ending! With the cigarette lighting and the looking at each other and the "why wish for the moon when we have the stars?" final line? *sniffle* Did I mention how much I LOVE this film?

Tracy and Hepburn. Just the best! My particular favorites are Adam's Rib"" and "Woman of the Year" - but all their films together were magical! And again with the snarking and the bickering. Plus, there's the real life stuff - although Tracy had the last word on THAT when Garson Kanin queried why his name was always first in the pairing - hadn't he ever heard of "woman and children first"? And Tracy retorted something along the lines of, "This is a movie, not a damned lifeboat!"

John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in "The Quiet Man". And yeah, yeah, I know, this is one relationship that the PC Police love to crawl all over, but I figure if Ms. O'Hara, who is a GENUINE Irishwoman, has no problem with the film's depiction of Ireland and Irish people OF THAT TIME - then everyone else needs to just STFU and enjoy the passionate fighting and making up and fighting some more.

Oh, and how could I nearly forget one of my mom's fave films, which I also love - "Seventh Heaven" (1927) with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. Chico, climbing the stairs from the sewers to his Diane, and their heaven amongst the rooftops of Paris! And war, and separation, and horrible Bad Things... and a love that triumphs over death! *swoon*

There are more, but I've babbled enough - please pass the popcorn. ;)

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Even though they only appeared in one film together I cannot believe that there is a better pairing of Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. No one to day can match them. Vince Vaugn and Jennifer Aniston, give ma a break. It was so wonderful to see two people who when u looked into their eyes you knew what they were thinking. They did not even have to say a word. Now that is acting.

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Yes, Ilsa and Rick were very good acting indeed, because Bogie and Ingrid didn't like each other at all, and the set was very tense and unpleasant a lot of the time.

Weird, I know, but one film chemistry that came through loud and clear for me was "Harold and Maude." Talking about bittersweet, no future in it but how you wish there was.

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