This document provides an overview of the history and evolution of the romantic comedy genre. It discusses the origins of rom coms in Shakespearean plays, then traces the development of various subgenres over time, including comedies of manner in the 1930s, screwball comedies in the 1930s focusing on strong female leads, sex comedies of the 1950s-1970s, and more radical romantic comedies of the 1960s addressing topics like sex. It also lists some of the most prominent actors, directors, conventions, and influential films in the genre.

1. ROMANTIC COMEDY
GENRE RESEARCH
BY SARAH HEARN

2. HISTORY
Romantic comedies are the hybrid between the romance and comedy
genre. Also known as Rom Coms, they are defined as a movie or play
that deals with love in a light, humorous way. When we look at the
beginning of the sub-genre the oxford dictionary definition “a
general term for comedies that deal mainly with the follies and
misunderstandings of young lovers, in a light-hearted and happily
concluded manner which usually avoids serious satire” relates to
Shakespeare plays of the late 1950s including Twelfth Night and A
Midsummer Night’s Dream whereby two people meet, conflict and
reunite.
Trying to recognise the very first rom com film is difficult as there is
debate between early films true genres but two movies that came out
in 1924 were Sherlock Jr. and Girl shy, but all the dialogue appeared
on title card.

3. COMEDIES OF MANNER
A very early form of rom coms was called “comedies of manner”
whereby a rich person would find love with a non-wealthy person e.g.
It would happen one night (1934). The movie won five Oscars for
things including best picture and director. The genre was known
especially for telling the depression-era audience that money does
buy everything.

4. SCREWBALL COMEDIES
The phrase comes from baseball where pitchers threw screwballs that
were known to move in unexpected ways. Therefore, screwball
comedies are films that move in unexpected directions. They can be
easily identified by both slapstick scenes and fast-paced witty
dialogue. To continue, in the 1930s sub-genre the female is both the
protagonist and the hero that drives the story. A good example of
Screwball comedies are Katharine Hepburn films such as Bringing up
Baby (1938).

5. SEX COMEDIES
Spanning from the 1950s to the 1970s, sex comedy movies focused
on the differences between men and women. Regularly the dispute
started between two professional rivals which then ended in a fierce
competition resulting in them falling for each other. Some films that
show battle of the sexes include Katharine Hepburn-Spencer’s Tracy
classic Desk Set (1957) and Charles Crichton Battle of the Sexes
(1960). These changes happened for a reason. Playboy magazine was
released in 1953 which gave men guides of how to develop
relationships with woman and sexual research was done by Alfred
Kinsey which showed that woman do have sex drives and engage in
sex before marriage.

6. RADICAL ROMANTIC COMEDIES
In the 1960s the sexual revolution brought about radical romantic
comedies. Peoples viewing of rom-coms stopped compared to
previously and they started talking freely are sex and love without the
innuendos that were often present in earlier films. Happily ever after
was not a necessity in this new style of rom-com. The narrative of
these films now often focused on personal happiness and the
realization that love isn’t everything. A good example of this is Annie
Hall (1977).

7. NEOTRADITIONAL ROMANTIC
COMEDIES
These films were the complete opposite of radical romantic comedies,
focusing on compatibility. In this instance, compromises are made by
both the male and females to make the relationship work. There are
often self-referential moment that not to the romantic comedies of
the last few year. Films like Trainwreck (2015) are considered
Neotraditional and continue in this genre to this day.
Rom coms are made to represent the attitudes towards love and
relationships in the current society wherever it is set. The films have
taken many different forms through the years but has always
portrayed the fact that as a society we believe in love.

8. MAIN ACTORS/ACTRESSES
1. Julia Roberts
2. Hugh Grant
3. Meg Ryan
4. Colin Firth
5. Jennifer Aniston
6. Matthew McConaughey
7. Reese Witherspoon
8. Anne Hathaway
9. Rachel McAdams
10. Ryan Gosling

9. MAIN DIRECTORS
1. Richard Curtis
2. Nora Ephron
3. Roger Michell
4. Garry Marshall
5. Nicholas Stoller
6. Rob Reiner
7. Gil Junger
8. Anne Fletcher
9. Peter Segal
10. P. J. Hogan

10. KEY CONVENTIONS
The main characters must be relatable to viewers in a way that two
people come together that have differences such as race, nationality
etc. In most instances the audience will have a connection with at least
one of the main characters and because of this the audience support
them throughout the film.
They are usually set in large cities that are recognisable to the
audience thus making them more relatable to the audience.
The narrative of a romantic comedy usually includes two people
meeting, an issue occurring and a resolution happening that brings
them back together.
However, some rom coms flip these conventions and have the couple
not ending up together in the end whether they are happy about it or
distraught. The audience has to be prepared for this however

11. KEY CONVENTIONS CONTINUED….
Other rom com explore more adult themes such as marriage and
pregnancies. This is unlike many standard rom coms as often these versions
don’t include them meeting and the beginning of their journey together but
instead we meet them part way through.
Bromantic comedies has also become popular to show the bonding between
two men go beyond friends. These usually lack sexual interest but show the
true bonding that two men can have
General there is high key lighting to represent the uplifting light-hearted
genre. This creates a natural look and if very flattering, increase
attractiveness of stars in the film. When problems occur in the relationship
the lighting tends to change to a lower key to mirror the mood.
Props such as roses, engagement rings, lipstick/makeup, candles and wine
glasses are regularly seen.

12. KEY FILMS
1. When Harry met Sally (1989)
2. Annie Hall (1977)
3. Harold and Maude (1971)
4. A matter of life and death (1946)
5. Groundhog Day (1993)
6. Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
7. The Philadelphia Story (1940)
8. Show Me Love (1998)
9. Roman Holiday (1953)
10. It Happened One Night (1934)