On World Hello Day, we compile our top ten first meetings on film
Jerry Maguire (1996)
We’re "not even close to being in the same vicinity as complete" without including Jerry Maguire’s famed monologue in our list. Barging in to a room full of divorced gabbling women, Jerry’s heartfelt speech is interrupted when his wife (Renée Zellweger) tells him to "shut up… you had me at hello."
Words by Gillian Hopper
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Preceding the oft misquoted “Hello, Clarice” – Lecter in fact bids Clarice a “good evening” – this unlikely pair’s first encounter takes place in prison, as U.S. FBI trainee Clarice Starling seeks the advice of imprisoned cannibal Dr Lecter to apprehend another serial killer, known as "Buffalo Bill".
Annie Hall (1977)
In a game of doubles, Woody Allen's Annie Hall meets her match. On the tennis court, Hall (Diane Keaton) is introduced to Alvy Singer (Allen). Their post match chatter starts with a conventionally awkward “hi!” “bye” and “la di da, la di da”. Off set, Keaton and Allen enjoyed a five-year romance of their own. La di da indeed, Diane.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)
Willy Wonka’s (Gene Wilder) first meeting with the children visiting his factory begins with a cane and ends with a beautiful forward somersault. The “cane scene” was apparently Wilder’s idea, who insisted on its inclusion because “from that time on, no one will know if I’m lying or telling the truth.”
Forrest Gump (1994)
Forrest Jr.’s formal hello to Mr Gump, (with an under punctuated ‘p’), reverses the roles of seniority between Gump and his son. Taking a pregnant pause before catching on to his namesake’s biological connection, Forrest Sr. eases into parenthood, guided by the wise words of Bert and Ernie.
Brief Encounter (1945)
This iconic happen-by-chance meeting at a railway station heralds the start of a flurried affair between married doctor, Alec, (Trevor Howard) and housewife Laura (Celia Johnson). While at the station one Thursday, fellow traveller, Alec, comes to Laura’s aid, removing a piece of grit from her eye.
Bambi (1942)
In this Disney favourite, Bambi the fawn comes nose-to-nose with a young "purdy" skunk, which he innocently identifies as ‘flower.’ Chuffed to be mistaken for anything that smells remotely pleasant, Flower coyly accepts his new name.
Harold and Maude (1971)
We’ve heard of picking up people at funerals (questionable as that may be), but this on-screen pick-up broke the mould. Enter Harold, a deadpan-disillusioned 20-year-old obsessed with death (his chosen form of transport – a hearse) and Maude, an eccentric 79-year-old. In this seminal cult classic written by pool cleaner and UCLA film student Colin Higgins, the pair’s taboo romantic relationship may be viewed as life meeting death.
Gilda (1946)
In this film-noir classic, Rita Hayworth's Gilda introduces the ultimate femme fatale move – the hair flip. The film's most emblematic moment, our first meeting with the starlet is queued by the line, "Gilda, are you decent?" Throwing her infamous locks forward, Gilda aptly responds.
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
In Baz Luhrmann’s updated retelling of Romeo and Juliet, the ill-fated lovers first meet at a masquerade ball, locking eyes through a fish tank. Love at first sight, the large aquarium divides the pair, forming an obstacle that separates their love; they are, metaphorically speaking, oceans apart.
Today is World Hello Day, a day that sets the objective of greeting ten people or more, demonstrating the importance of kindness and communication, and encouraging peaceful co-existence. In celebration, we've compiled ten of cinema's most brilliantly timed and impeccably executed first meetings, from the funny (Harold and Maude) to the heart-stoppingly romantic (Romeo and Juliet) to the downright chilling, courtesy of Hannibal Lecter.
