By Kerry Knight
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| Photo Credit: bhmpics.com |
The British author John
Galsworthy once wrote, “Love has no age, no limit; and no death.” When you
think about it, the same could be said for a physical substance we humans can’t
live without: water Embrace to the two
and you’ve a potent mix for romance … especially in the bathtub.
If you’re a fan of romantic
dramas or comedy films, you have probably seen segments featuring an amorous
bathroom scene in a huge porcelain Clawfoot or Pedestal tub. You have to admit, these elegant bathing
beauties are a perfect setting for love. In this segment of Tub Talk, we will visit
several of the best romantic movies that featured these tubs. Here are some of my favorites:
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| Photo Credit: kiss925.com |
Pretty Woman. Who can forget the great roles Richard Gere
and Julia Roberts played in this film? The
1990 movie, set in Los Angeles, is about a wealthy businessman named Edward,
who is on a business trip. (By the way,
Roy Orbison’s song, “Pretty Woman,” helped popularize the movie. Gere’s character needs an escort to accompany
him to some social events, so hires a beautiful prostitute. There are a couple of classic
scenes in the bathtub. The first has Roberts
listening to her Sony Walkman and singing in the bathtub. The second scene has Roberts holding Gere in
the tub as he leans back against her, relaxing from a fast-paced business life
that he hates. She becomes his great
escape. Roberts was nominated for an
Oscar as Best Actress; won the Golden Globes; with Gere being nominated for the
Golden Globes. The film won “Best Comedy”
in the People’ Choice Awards. You might
rename the movie, “Falling in Love in the Tub.”
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| Photo Credit: hookedonhouses.com |
Pillow Talk. This film goes back a few decades, in 1959. Rock Hudson and Doris Day were ideal in this
giddy comedy about two people who share a party phone line (Boy, is this one
dated.) Hudson played a successful
songwriter and Day was an interior decorator.
Their early phone conversations are rather cool and apathetic. He pictures her as some jealous old
maid. Seemingly every time she picks up
the phone to use it, he’s trying to sing some new love song to one of his
admiring females. The bathtub scene is classic, even by today’s standards as we
see them both (through the use of split screen), in their separate rooms and
bathtubs, talking to each other on the phone.
As Hudson finds out just how beautiful and charming Day’s character is
their romance begins to blossom.
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| Photo Credit: entertainment.time.com |
Out of Sight, featuring with Jennifer
Lopez and George Clooney, was released in 1998.
There was tremendous chemistry between these two principal actors. Steven Soderbergh, the brilliant director,
lights the bathtub scene with a soft red glow.
Sure, it’s only a dream, but the scene in which Lopez’ character, U.S.
Marshall, Karen Sisco, climbs into the bathtub, fully clothed and wearing high heels, with career criminal Jack Foley
(played by Clooney), absolutely radiates with sexual heat and sophistication.
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| Photo Credit: talkspas.com |
It’s Complicated was released in 2009,
starring Steve Marin, Meryl Streep and Alex Baldwin. While attending their son’s graduation, a divorced
couple (Streep and Baldwin) reignites the spark in their prior relationship. The only problem is, they’re now divorced and
Baldwin’s character has already married a younger woman. Baldwin and Streep ignore the fact they were
once married to each other before engaging in a torrid affair and fall in love
all over again. The scene by the bathtub
illustrates how much Baldwin likes the changes that Streep has made in her
life. Jake says, “I’m so glad you
stopped doing bikini waxes. You’ve gone
native.” It is a laugh a minute with
great performances by all.
attending their son’s graduation, a divorced
couple (Streep and Baldwin) reignites the spark in their prior relationship. |
| Photo Credit: ilybon.neti.net |
The Reader, released in 2008, starred
Kate Winslet, who won an Oscar and Golden Globes for “Best Actress.” The movie is set in post-World War II
Germany. A young man has an affair with
an older woman, and does not see her again for many years. They reunite as she defends herself in a
war-crime trial. During the earlier time
of seduction, he reads to her while they take a bath together in a Clawfoot
tub. Somehow it seems to bring her out
of an emotional fog.
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| Photo Credit: youtube.com |
The Notebook was a real crowd
favorite back in 2005, based on a popular novel by Nicholas Sparks. James Garner, who plays the aged version of
Ryan Gosling, was nominated for an Oscar for his role. Gena Rowlands, who plays the aged version of
Rachel McAdams, won the Golden Satellite Award for “Best Actress” in a
supporting role. And both Gosling and
McAdams won a Movie MTV Award for “best kiss.”
The bathtub scene is purely romantic, as the two lovers fight against
all odds to spend their lives together.
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| Photo Credit: toutlecine.challenges.fr |
Splash. Back in the mid-80s, this
film became one of the most successful box office releases of the romantic
comedy genre. It starred Tom Hanks and
Daryl Hannah. Hanks played a man who is
saved from drowning by a real-life mermaid.
They, of course, fall in love and the comedy is endless. She’s able to function as a normal human female
on land, for a while, but the fun begins when she’s taking a bath as a mermaid
and Hanks wants to come into the bathroom. This bathtub scene is priceless.
In all of these movie selections,
one prop stands out above all others: the bathtub. It allows the actors
to present their emotional vulnerability as well as their seductive playfulness. These Clawfoot and Pedestal bathtub beauties
will always remind us of some of the greatest romantic movies of all time.
In this article, I talked about and featured some of the most memorable bathtub scenes in major romantic comedy films. I discussed some of the plot scenarios, mentioned the leading actors, listed key awards and nominations, described some of the bathroom scenes, and more.
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Alan and Kerry Knight are owners of Tub King, Inc., and SeniorBathtub.com in Jacksonville,
Florida. Together they have many years of experience in the antique and
senior bathtub industries. Their companies not only provide superior products,
they are also award winners, receiving the “Best of Jacksonville Chamber Award”
four years running. If you’d like to contact them, call (800) 409-3375 or (800)
843-4231; or send an email to Alan@tubking.com.
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