25 thoughts on “A Selective List of Unhappily Ever After Films

  1. Watched Verdi’s opera Aida with a great Malbec!

    “Filmed at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Daniela Dessì, Elisabetta Fiorillo, Fabio Armiliato, Juan Pons and Roberto Scandiuzzi lead the cast in the renowned period production filmed in 2003 against the historic paper trompe-l’œil sets painted between 1936-45 by Josep Mestres Cabanes, the last representative of the old Catalan school of scenography”

    This film was eye candy extreme – from the gorgeous theater to the costumes and massive ornate set pieces.

    I turned to my guy & asked, “Why are the most beautiful productions the most tragic? It’s as if the entertainment industry always wants you to suffer somehow.”

  2. So many could be added like Moulin Rouge and Atonement… Also have you seen The Lady of the Camellias (1981) with Isabelle Hupert? It’s awesome! I’m in a Moulin Rouge mood myself

  3. I don’t hate it with the hate of a thousand suns, but I’m pretty meh: Romance never interested me a lot (apart of a short period of time in my 20s, probably hormones). Give me a good murder any day! And concerning Vincent Perez, he’s still working. Shot something in 2017 with that wonderful human being, Roman Polanski. Blerg. Apart from that, he’s not in leading roles anymore, and that has been the case for awhile… Since they dared to do a remake of Fanfan la Tulipe with him as the lead when he was at the top. That was a bust, and then he seriously started to lose his hair, and the male leads/love interest roles went down the drain with them… And, well, he’s getting older now.

      1. Cyrano, an almost lifelong favorite book, reconciled me with Depardieu. (though I’ll never forgive the text changes by the place curse here scenarists)

      2. I honestly like Jose Ferrer better. The over-the-top scene chewing is appropriate for the character imo.

        But I love the Depardieu version too (and it had a much better Roxanne) and is more visually appealing.

  4. My unhappily ever after has always been Jo and Laurie from Little Women. I will never forgive Louisa May Alcott for separating them. And to add insult to injury Laurie marries Amy!

  5. You can’t list frock flick romances that end badly without mentioning Gone With The Wind!

  6. What about The Duchess? It is in fact one of the most expensive and popular “unhappily ever after” movies right after Titanic. Plus Dominic Cooper, who can make even late-18th century wig sexy. And those costumes are brilliant!

  7. Love your list 💘👌 No ‘Hamlet’ or ‘Romeo & Julie’s? I would also add ‘Tristan & Isolde’, ‘Moulin Rouge’, ‘Atonement’ and ‘Lost City’ to it….
    And would ‘Gone with the wind’ fit in this list?
    Because I love his; “frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!!”

    1. I meant to say ‘Romeo & Juliet’ of course…stupid Auto-correct…and me failing to check twice before posting. 😔

  8. The story of Queen Margot burrying the head of her lover de la Môle appears already in the french novel “Le Rouge et le Noir” (published in 1830), where his female descendant Mathilde burries the head of her lover and is more happy with this romantic gesture than she would have been with him alive. I don’t know if you have read that, but there is a nice movie version with an amazingly handsome actor ;)

  9. Copacabana TV movie. Not sure if considered a costume flick but it’s set in the forties. It’s romantic and tragic! Good songs.

  10. Oscar & Lucinda. I want to punch that author in the face, but 3/4ths of the movie is utterly spectacular and charming and sweet and romantic… and then it becomes tragic.

    Moulin Rouge!

    Not sure what to watch tonight. Might try something new…

  11. I am always grateful to St Valentine’s day. It reminds me of family birthday obligations. (which incidentally I should be attending to right now.) but has no other purpose in my diary. My favourite unhappy ever after is Anna Karenina but as I have not even bothered to watch the film it may not count. Atonement and Duchess would probably top of list of films. But for the me the only film to watch on St Valentine’s Day is Picnic at Hanging Rock.

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