Sometimes it’s nice to shut out whatever’s messing with your mind. Anytime is the right time to step away, turn off the anxiety, and think good thoughts, but a long weekend is the perfect excuse. In case you’re in the mood to do just that, here are 7 movies, each with a touch of romance, for your streaming pleasure.
NOTORIOUS (1946)
If you just want to watch a Cold War romance, this first film is a bit of a stretch since it concerns the after-effects of World War II, rather than the onset of the Cold War. Released in 1946, this Hitchcock thriller is about a traitor’s daughter who is recruited by an American agent to infiltrate a spy ring in postwar Rio. As a deadly plot begins to emerge, her safety is compromised. The movie stars Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant. The full movie is free on YouTube here. Watch the trailer below.
NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
This is another Cary Grant, Alfred Hitchcock thriller, this time with Eva Marie Saint as the love interest. Selected as one of the American Film Institute’s Top 100 American Films and the recipient of three Academy Award nominations. Grant stars as a New York City advertising executive mistaken for a spy. Ruthlessly pursued as he races cross country, the film is famous for its iconic action scenes. Take a look at the trailer.
THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD (1965)
Based on the 1963 novel by John le Carré, the film is about a British agent who is sent to East Germany to disseminate disinformation about a powerful East German intelligence officer. He allows himself to be recruited by the communists with the aid of his unwitting English girlfriend, an idealistic communist. The movie ends in tragedy for both of them. Richard Burton was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Alec Leamus.
NO WAY OUT
Starring Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, and Sean Young, this 1987 film is labeled a neo noir thriller. A US Navy Lieutenant becomes romantically involved with the mistress of the Secretary of Defense and, when she is found murdered, he is assigned to investigate the case, quickly becoming a suspect himself. Roger Ebert wrote No Way Out is “a film in which a simple situation grows more and more complex until it turns into a nightmare not only for the hero but also for everyone associated with him.” Viewers say it kept them on the edge of their seats. The trailer is below, and if you’re intrigued you can watch it for free on YouTube with ads.
ATOMIC BLONDE
Per Amazon Prime Video, in this 2017 film “Charlize Theron stars as elite MI6’s most lethal assassin and the crown jewel of Her Majesty’s Secret Intelligence Service, Lorraine Broughton. She’s sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents and must struggle to stay alive. Her love interest in the movie is Delphine Lasalle (Sofia Boutella), a French agent.
THE RUSSIA HOUSE
Based on a 1989 book by John Le Carre, The Russia House revolves around a book editor (Sean Connery) from a bargain-basement publishing house in Great Britain who is summoned to a book show in Russia by a CIA agent. A Russian book editor (Michelle Pfeiffer) has passed on detailed notebooks said to have been written by a cynical Russian physicist named “Dante” (Klaus-Maria Brandauer). The Brit’s objective: to assess new Russia’s involvement in the old Cold War and to verify the authenticity of the notebooks. After watching the trailer, you can watch the full movie for free on YouTube with ads.
COLD WAR
Released in 2018, and nominated for 3 Academy Awards, Cold War is a passionate love story between two people of different backgrounds. The YouTube blurb says “Set against the background of the Cold War in 1950s Poland, Berlin, Yugoslavia, and Paris, it’s the tale of a couple separated by politics, character flaws, and unfortunate twists of fate — an impossible love story in impossible times.” Filmed in black and white, the film is incredibly romantic, perfect viewing for Valentine’s Day and after. It’s included with Prime.
Want some more choices? Check out the post on American Film Noir: 5 Classic Movies You Must See. If you have other recommendations or feedback, be sure to let us know in the comments.
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Featured photo by Timothy K. Hamilton
