“When Harry Met Sally… is pure movie magic”, says one review of the film, and it’s perhaps a great representation of what is frequently described as one of the best romantic comedies in movie history.
Fans only have days to watch the 1989 rom-com directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron — as it’s leaving BBC iPlayer on August 31.
The film addresses the question “Can men and women ever just be friends?” as it follows the story of Harry Burns and Sally Albright over the course of 12 odd years as their relationship transcends from friendship to romantic love.
The titular characters first meet in Chicago as Harry is dating Sally’s friend Amanda Reese and the two share a ride down to New York City. Over the next 12 years the pair keep bumping into each other in various scenarios as their relationship deepens.
The inspiration behind When Harry Met Sally.. first came after Reiner and Penny Marshall divorced. Ephron had conducted an interview with the director, which provided the foundational basis for Harry’s character. Sally on the other hand, was based on Ephron herself and some of her friends.
Starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, and Bruno Kirby — when Crystal came on board, he made his own contributions to the screenplay, while much of the dialogue was reportedly based on the real-life friendship between Reiner and Crystal.
When Harry Met Sally.. grossed approximately $93 million at the global box-office against a production budget of $16 million, being hailed a commercial success. It also received several prestigious nominations, with Ephron earning an Oscar, a BAFTA, and a Writers Guild of America Award nomination for her screenplay.
The rom-com has an 89 per cent score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with one critic writing: “It’s a perfect movie, the pinnacle of Meg Ryan’s career, and the only thing I think about when thinking about Billy Crystal.”
While another reviewer said: “It succeeds admirably — not only making you laugh but also providing a sweet romantic refuge. It makes you want to believe in romance again, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary.”
A third critic praised the lead pair’s acting chops: “A well-written and well-directed movie with excellent performances from both Crystal and Ryan.”
While another reviewer said: “There are so many nice touches here, every frame and line of dialogue is a treat for moviegoers fed up to the teeth with dazzle and trappings.”
Fans also showered high praise on the film, with one adding: “when harry met sally is my favorite movie because it just gets it. it’s not trying too hard to be a grand love story. it just is. the dialogue is sharp. the chemistry is effortless. every scene feels like a conversation i’ve either had or want to have. it’s funny without forcing it. romantic without being cheesy. actually says something about relationships instead of just going through the motions.”
While another viewer wrote: “Still holds up, year after year (usually around the holidays) this film never disappoints. Wonderful writing, acting and who doesn’t love Harry Connick Jr’s soundtrack? So good. Classic.”
And one fan simply said: “One of my favorite movies of all time.”
When Harry Met Sally.. is available to stream on BBC iPlayer till August 31.