MANILA, Philippines?Earlier this month, we conducted an informal poll on film buffs? favorite romantic movies of all time?and got quite a heartful of glowing and even impassioned responses:

?My absolute favorite is ?Casablanca,? starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. Their love was strong, but they were at the wrong place at the wrong time, and that gave their story a painful twist that made it especially moving.?

?Nothing beats ?Gone With The Wind? with its two unusually vital and vivid lovers, Scarlett O?Hara and Rhett Butler, who were caught up in the tumult and tragedy of the US Civil War. The ?chemistry? between Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable made the story even more compelling.?

Flashbacks

??Two for the Road? (starring Audrey Hepburm and Albert Finney) is the story of a marriage gone sour, but its beautiful flashbacks still make it a love story for all seasons.?

??The Way We Were? (Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand) is at the top of my list, because its enchanting story about opposites that attract spans decades, giving its leads the time to change and mature.?

??When Harry Met Sally? (Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan) is ?only? a comedy, but it?s a memorable and original viewing experience, showing the other sides to the prismatic totality of love. Another ?combative? production that also hits the spot in this way is ?The War of the Roses.??

??Pride and Prejudice? is a beautiful period and yet relevant movie that is so full of heart and longing that it still affects me, no matter how many times I view it.?

?I?m a fan of Greta Garbo, so I have most of her movies. The very best is ?Ninotchka,? in which she plays a Communist party officer who is romanced by a Parisian. The particular appeal of this movie is seeing the ?mannish? Greta warming up under the spell of love. ?Another lovely Garbo movie is the heartbreaking ?Camille.??

?Nothing beats ?The Princess Bride??it?s a classic love story that is idealized but still hits the heart.?

Evolution of love

?The evolution of love in ?Giant? is particularly memorable and the performances of the leads, especially Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean, are so good.?

??Much Ado About Nothing? is Shakespeare?s enchanting view of love in all its dazzling variety.?

?My choice is an old Italian film, ?La Strada,? about the love of a mentally impaired woman and a stupid circus strongman. Not very romantic characters, but their love for each other was special (starring Giulieta Massina and Anthony Quinn).?

Other exceptional romantic films cited include ?Bridges of Madison County,? ?Roman Holiday,? ?A Room with A View,? ?Emma,? ?The English Patient,? ?The Mirror Has Two Faces,? ?Breathless,? ?Moonstruck,? ?Breakfast at Tiffany?s,? ?It Could Happen to You,? ?An Affair to Remember,? ?Four Weddings and A Funeral,? ?Somewhere in Time,? ?The American President,? and ?Sleepless in Seattle.?