Murphy's Romance ( first middle and last on my list)

by KathyB
(Indianapolis IN)

I don't think there's a more romantic movie than "Murphy's Romance" starring James Garner and Sally Field.

I can honestly say I've probably seen this in its entirety (from start to end) more than 100 times. And I've seen it in bits and pieces about 200 more. It came out in 1985.

For those who haven't seen it, Sally is a newly-divorced woman with a young son.

They move to a dilapidated house on a piece of property in the Midwest and she trains/boards horses for a living.

Garner is the somewhat older pharmacist in the small town nearby.

Their first encounter offers no sparks but soon the attraction starts to grow and is evident to the audience.

Her ex-husband shows up to add some fuel to the fire, and a tiny spark of competitive spirit spurs some good comments from Garner.

Simple Midwest life is well-illustrated without making them look hokey or stupid, and it made me think a lot about my growing up in a small town.

It's a love story that grows slowly despite an age difference of 25+ years and what totally makes me teary-eyed every time is their exchange towards the end.

Garner: "I'm in love for the last time in my life."

Sally: "And I'm in love for the first time in my life."