by Colby Brin

On this here Valentine’s Day, I wanted to share with you what is perhaps my favorite romantic quote of all time.  The following scene is from A Place in the Sun, a 1951 film starring Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor.

I first saw this when I was in grade school; it was part of a montage of famous movie scenes.  It’s resonated with me ever since.  I don’t know too much about the movie itself, which may be just as well; in my mind, this scene can remain perfect, unadulterated.

At 0:53, Clift tells Taylor:

I love you.  I loved you since the first moment I saw you.  I guess maybe I even loved you before I saw you.

That slays me: I guess maybe I even loved you before I saw you.

It takes the old love at first site trope, and fairly blows it out of the water.  It’s one of those things where, anyone who likes to turn a phrase or two wishes they had come up with it.  I know I do.

And I’d imagine that also like me, most people wouldn’t mind having it said to them at least once in their lives, or even just feeling that they had to say it to someone.

I do recognize that such manic, hyperbolic love might not make for the best long term relationship, let alone marriage.

Great quote though.