
As a youngster I watched "Old Yeller" and coming from a dog loving family was upset, but it was an early favorite and taught me to enjoy sad movies. It seemed ironic and unfair that the dog who protected the family paid the price. The nobleness of the dog also struck a chord. "Bambi," the classic was also a heart breaker. A family friend, Bob Morley used to hate that movie as he loved hunting.
Thom mentioned Burgess Meredith's role in "Rocky" that had a very sad scene, but I remember that movie as one of the very few I actually stood up in the theatre (with many others) and clapped because it made me feel good. I do remember Burgess in a much older film "Of Mice and Men" that rates as one of the sadder movies when Burgess shot his very kind and vulnerable friend played by Lon Chaney who he had tried to protect throughout the narrative. A second viewing of "Rocky" the sad scene resonated with me.
"The Pride of the Yankees" contains the triumphs and romance of Lou Gehrig, but that just sets up the end. ALS is now known as Lou Gehrig's disease and is more memorable because of his consecutive game record. Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright and Walter Brennan help you like the hero. The writers and director were right to end the movie at his farewell speech about what a lucky man he was.

The saddest movie I recall is "Kal Ho Na Ho' near the beginning of my interest in Bollywood. When I picked up my reserve copy at the local library the young girl checking out warned me it is very sad. In truth it is classic manipulation. In the first part of the movie it appears typically juvenile humour and from time to time the protagonist helps patch up some human relations problems but mostly the hero (this was a critical to my preference for Shah Rukh Khan) is cracking corny jokes many in poor taste. At one point you realize that he loves the heroinne, Preity Zinta and before too long she is ready to reciprocate. Surprisingly he lies to her and tells her he is already married. Then he works hard to set up her immature school friend which eventually succeeds. Bollywood music is sometimes a distraction, but here under the guidance of Shankar Ehsaan Loy is used brilliantly. The title song is first sung around mid point and basically seems philosophical--you don't know what will happen tomorrow. In the second half you understand he has a dangerous heart condition. It comes to a climax when he is hospitalized and the heroinne realizes she has been lied to and her new husband feels his happiness had also been manipulated. Rest of the family and some friends gather around and the viewer realizes everyone present from a young girl to a bitter grandmother owes him gratitude. Shah Rukh Khan admits to over acting and this is probably a good example, but fits right in. I felt guilty for thinking the hero was so juvenile. The music is the same title song, but now officially labelled "sad version" and it is impossible not to sob. It has had that effect on me every time and when I hear the beautiful song it is also very affecting.
While still on Bollywood (I promise this won't just be Indian promotion) another movie that induces sadness is "Paa." In it the producers have cast the famous 64 year old Amitabh Bachchan as a 12 year old and his actual son, Abischek to play his father. Near the beginning it seems like a romance and a comedy. The twelve year old has a disease, Progeria and you are warned that it is fatal, but there is so much action with young children that you are more concerned about how the boy and the father will realize their relationship. It goes in stages. The background story is that a romance that seemed so promising was disrupted by a pregnancy and a desire not to abort. The new mother who is studying to be a doctor gets support from her mother and the two of them raise the boy who is badly deformed, but very intelligent and give him an atmosphere of love. The father, the son of a wealthy man who is kept out, in the meantime, becomes an idealistic politician trying to do good things, but is being attacked by crooked media and other politicians. He encounters the young boy who wins a contest and they start to bond. My first movie seeing Vidya Balan who plays the boy's mother and later becomes a favorite.. The last words of the dying boy hit hard.

Sometimes the greatest impact comes from the unexpected, but we usually watch movies for expected feelings. I apologize for the spoilers, but you did realize these were all sad movies! Tragic sad movies do fill a role at different times of our lives and if you are looking for a good cry bring along some kleenex and check out some of the movies mentioned. If you would rather read about the joys of movie kisses check out http://www.therealjohndavidson.com/2013/02/kissing-bollywood-vs-hollywood.html
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