THESE LIPS ARE UNSEALED
Do you remember these? The memorable first kisses that aren’t just kisses … they’re fixtures of film, television and pop culture. In honour of Valentine’s Day, Ian Nathanson highlights some of the smooches that stand out as the most iconic in history.
TV
Cheers (1983): Sam’s (Ted Danson) jealousy over Diane (Shelley Long) dating his brother boils over. The co-workers’ heated exchange in Sam’s Boston bar office ends in a fit of a quickly-turnedon passionate embrace.
Friends (1995): Ultimate willthey-or-won’t-they couple Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) finally lock lips after a wee inebriated Rachel lets Ross know how she really feels.
Wonder Years (1988): In the series pilot, Winnie’s brother Brian (Bentley Mitchum) is killed in action in Vietnam and childhood friends Kevin (Fred Savage) and Winnie (Danica McKellar) meet in a nearby woods and share a teenage kiss together. So soon.
Frasier (2000): Conversely, it takes seven long seasons before Niles’ (David Hyde Pierce) hapless pining for Daphne (Jane Leeves) comes to a sealed-witha-kiss fruition.
MTV Music Awards (2003): Can we count Madonna planting a controversial smacker on Britney Spears in the show opener as a first kiss? Heck, why not?
MOVIES
Lady and the Tramp (1955): Think public displays of affection just apply to humans? Take an animated male stray mutt and female cocker spaniel sharing a romantic plate of spaghetti and meatballs … and voila!
Titanic (1997): To paraphrase a certain Celine Dion hit, romantic hearts will go on after seeing Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) first touch lips with Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet). We won’t go into further details of what happens to the vessel they’re on.
Ghost (1990): Wrap your head around this one: Technically speaking, Molly Jensen (Demi Moore) makes out with Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg). However, the latter is channelling Molly’s late beau Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze). So really it’s Sam and Molly that are smooching. Follow that?
Spider-Man (2002): Costumed alter ego of Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) not only dole up a heart-melting smooch, but it also defies gravity: Spidey upside-down and Mary Jane right-side up. Brokeback Mountain (2005): In mainstream movie watching, the sight of Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) going lip to lip shouldn’t shock anyone. More intriguing: Ennis’ wife Alma happens to notice the gents in the heat of the moment. Awkward!
POP CULTURE
Life magazine (1945): What’s arguably become the 20th century’s most recognized kissing photograph between a sailor and a nurse — claimed to be George
Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman — just after news spread of Japan’s surrender in the Second World War, marking its unofficial end: Alfred Eisenstaedt’s V-J Day, Times Square, or sometimes known as The Kiss. The Kiss by the Hôtel de Ville
(1950): Although less iconic than the Alfred Eisenstaedt photo, Doisneau snapped this photo for a spread about Paris lovers for Life magazine. Despite this classic shot being presumably staged. that didn’t prevent the picture from gracing the walls of freshman dorm rooms since its 1986 production. Will and Kate’s wedding (2011): Royal weddings are always great romantic fodder for first kisses (Charles and Diana circa 1981, for instance). But for recent royal watchers, Diana’s son Prince William locking lips with his bride, the former Kate Middleton, sent oohs and ahhs among us swooning types. Vancouver Riots (2011): Sadly sparked after the NHL’s Boston Bruins won that year’s Stanley Cup over the Vancouver Canucks. The heated rivalry between the team’s fans spiralled out into the streets of Vancouver following the Canucks’ Game 7 defeat. Canadian Alex Thomas fell down escaping the madness; her Australian boyfriend Scott Jones came to her rescue and planted a comforting kiss — captured by Getty Images’ Rich Lam for the world to eventually see.