MANILA, Philippines ? Hollywood likes rehashing its cinematic oldies but goodies?especially its sweeping romantic tales. Consider the following titles: ?A Star is Born,? ?Sabrina,? ?Showboat? and ?Love Affair.?

Since I am a fan of vintage films, I have a collection of the different versions of those movies. Naturally, I compare them, then decide which one is better. ?Red Dust?/?Mogambo? starred Clark Gable as the devil-may-care safari guide. In the 1932 original, the dashing actor was the sexual target of Jean Harlow and Mary Astor. In the 1953 remake, it was Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly?s turn to fight for Gable?s affections.

Harlow and Gardner were the antithesis of Astor and Kelly. Gable?s charms worked well under intense feminine pressure. I chose Gardner over Harlow because the latter?s dated make-up requires greater suspension of belief. She was a great comedienne, though.

Incarnation

There were three (!) versions of ?A Star is Born?: The 1937 original starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, followed by Judy Garland and James Mason in 1954. The most recent incarnation was a pop-rock film, with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson in the cast.

In the ?50s, ?Sabrina? starred the gorgeous Audrey Hepburn opposite Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. Its 1995 remake was topbilled by a seemingly bored Harrison Ford, the frisky Greg Kinnear and the pretty Julia Ormond.

Sadly, the movie paled terribly in comparison to the original. La Hepburn was uniquely original and was hard to top! Yes, she sported Sabrina?s haircut, collar and other fashion statements, but poor Julia simply couldn?t approximate Audrey?s appeal.

Singing styles

The first ?Showboat? movie (1936) starred Irene Dunne, Allan Jones and Helen Morgan. Unfortunately, I found their singing styles dated, and preferred Ava Gardner, Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson?s 1951 update of the 1929 musical.

Dunne starred opposite Charles Boyer in 1939?s ?Love Affair.? Its succeeding screen revivals were characterized by contrasting degrees of success. Sparks really flew when Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant appeared in the 1952 version, with a lot of help from Vic Damone?s soulful rendition of the film?s theme song.

In 1994, the movie was remade again as the beautifully photographed ?Love Affair,? starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening, with the special participation of the then octogenarian Katharine Hepburn. Alas, the second remake flopped at the box office.