Flashdance (1983)

A Twirl and a Loving Kiss (Freeze-Framed) After a Dance Audition

Adrian Lyne's R-rated sleeper hit film, basically a string of music videos for its score, was a major box-office success and cultural touchstone (the torn/cut off-the-shoulder baggy sweatshirt, break dancing, ankle warmers, etc.).

It was generally regarded as a formulaic, implausible Cinderella story of an 18 year-old blue-collar Pittsburgh steel mill welder (and bar dancer at night at Mawby's Bar) who became a success as a more legitimate ballet dancer.

In this film's concluding, predictable but upbeat romantic ending, gorgeous dancer/welder Alexandra "Alex" Owens (Jennifer Beals) met her older boyfriend and steel mill boss Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri) following an important dance audition at the Conservatory of Dance.

She received a handful of long-stemmed red roses, a twirl and a loving kiss in the freeze-framed conclusion - to the tune of "Flashdance - What a Feeling!"

The Hunger (1983, UK)

Lesbian Vampire Kisses

Tony Scott's directorial debut film was this stylish, R-rated, erotic 80s vampire horror film, a loose adaptation of Whitley Strieber's novel.

It included a controversial, soft-focus lesbian vampires sex scene in the sunlight of a late afternoon between two females with mutual attraction to each other:

• seductively-elegant, centuries-old, immortal vampire queen Miriam Blaylock (Catherine Deneuve)
• new healthy blood candidate/recruit, her latest courtship victim - the butchy longevity scientist Dr. Sarah Roberts (Susan Sarandon), a sleep and aging researcher

During a visit to Miriam's elegant NY townhouse, the doctor was offered a drink of sherry, while Miriam played The Flower Duet, "a love song" on the piano. Sarah suspiciously asked:

Sarah: "Are you making a pass at me, Mrs. Blaylock?"
Miriam: (correcting her) "Miriam."
Sarah: (repeating) "Miriam."
Miriam: "Not that I am aware of, Sarah."

When Sarah spilled a blood-red droplet of sherry on her white T-shirt (worn without a bra), she first daubed at it, and then was prompted to remove her top.

Miriam gave her some soft Sapphic touches before a slow kiss.

During their subsequent sexual encounter on Miriam's bed, Sarah didn't realize that Miriam bit into her arm, causing a blood exchange. Miriam took on the new lover by mingling with her blood.

Risky Business (1983)

Dreamy "Are You Ready For Me?" Kiss

Writer/director Paul Brickman's effective and well-received teen sex comedy equated the rewards of sexuality and successful capitalistic enterprise.

• affluent, Chicago suburb-dwelling, college-bound high-school senior Joel Goodson (Tom Cruise in a star-making role)
• heart-of-gold hooker Lana (Rebecca DeMornay)

To experience a good time while his parents were away, Joel decided to contact a call-girl referral ("It's what you want...It's what every white boy off the lake wants"). To prove his manhood, he phoned prostitute Lana (Rebecca DeMornay), gave her a fake name (Ralph) and his address for contact.

His first hot encounter with her came later that evening after she rang his doorbell and let herself in. She entered his living room, and enticingly asked: "Are you ready for me, Ralph?"

He helped remove her dress from the bottom up and revealed she was naked underneath, and as they kissed when she was swept naked into his arms, the wind blew the patio doors open and they made love on the stairs and on a rocking chair, to the tune of electronic music provided by Tangerine Dream. She wished to collect her $300 fee from him the next morning.

He eventually accepted her idea to raise money (for her services, and to pay for repairs for his parents' damaged Porsche) by profitably transforming the house into a brothel and making him a successful entrepreneur.

Risky Business (1983)

Kisses on the Deserted Chicago "L" Train

In another scene, suburban high-schooler Joel (Tom Cruise) and high-class hooker Lana (Rebecca DeMornay) riskily and daringly became exhibitionists during a deserted, late-night, elevated CTA subway ride. Joel explained in voice-over:

"She wanted to make love on a real train. Who was I to say no?"

They began kissing - to the tune of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight." After all the other passengers vacated, they found themselves in an empty car where they could be more intimate and passionate, as the pounding rhythms of Tangerine Dream took over. He touched her thighs through her dress and slipped off her panties, while she unbuckled his pants. They made love while seated, as the train slipped quietly through the night.

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

"Someone Who Loves You" Kiss

At the 20 minute mark of this third film in the second trilogy, at night in the deserted throne room of vile, slug-like gangster Jabba the Hutt, a sole shadowy figure (dressed like bounty hunter Boushh from earlier) entered.

The intruder lowered the carbonite-frozen Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from a wall in an alcove, melted the hard shell away with a decarbonization lever, and Han's lifeless body was freed but fell to the floor. He revived, but was suffering from hibernation sickness.

After the temporarily-blinded Han asked: "Who are you?", the bounty hunter took off his helmet to reveal himself. Princess Leia's (Carrie Fisher) face was revealed from under the mask. She responded:

"Someone who loves you."

The helpless Han recognized her voice, and she briefly kissed him. She rushed him: "I gotta get you out of here."

This was the third kiss between the two - previously, they had often sparred with each other before falling in love.

Terms of Endearment (1983)

"Fly Me to the Moon" Kiss

Director James L. Brooks' Best Picture-winning tearjerker was mostly about a mother-daughter relationship over many years. However, it also told of a giddy romance that reluctantly developed between two unlikely middle-aged adults living in Houston as neighbors:

• boozy, playboyish, beer-bellied ex-astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Jack Nicholson)
• widowed, uptight, well-mannered, yet eccentric and stiff Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine)

After they went out for a lunch date, they both rode in his silver Corvette as he drunkenly steered with his feet, sitting on the open roof and yelling:

"Breedlove at the helm! Just keep pumping that throttle!"

Soon after he cried "Fly me to the moon," he was projected from the car into the water of the Gulf of Mexico when she applied the brakes.

Although they kissed for the first time while knee-deep in the water, she fought back when his hand reached for her breast inside her blouse, and she accused him of ruining their time together by getting drunk, although he admitted: "You do bring out the devil in me."

Terms of Endearment (1983)

"I'm a Grandmother" Kiss

Soon after, however, Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) phoned neighbor Garrett (Jack Nicholson) and invited him to her bedroom in the evening to look at a Renoir painting as a pretext for sex (after fifteen years of celibacy):

"I'm inviting you to come over and look at my Renoir."

He quickly interpreted her meaning:

Garrett: "You're inviting me to bed."
Aurora: "Yes, it happens to be in my bedroom."
Garrett: (cajoling and cackling) "Is the Renoir under the covers?"

After he arrived at her house next-door, he joked: "Hi - I was doing laps when you called. Lucky for us, I only did eight."

After being shown the Renoir, he quipped: "I like the painting. I like everything in here. Relax, baby."

But she pulled away: "Just who do you think you're talking to like this? Don't you realize I'm a grandmother!"

Then, they clenched and kissed voraciously.

Romancing the Stone (1984)

"A Hopeful Romantic" Kiss

Director Robert Zemeckis' action-adventure romantic-comedy told of a rousing treasure hunt for a valuable "stone" (a giant emerald) named "El Corazon" (The Heart) in South America (Colombia).

In the finale, adventure-romance novelist Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner) turned in her latest "inspired" work to her publisher Gloria (Holland Taylor), who looked upon it with high regard:

Gloria: "You are now a world-class hopeless romantic."
Joan: (correcting her) "No, hopeful. Hopeful romantic."

Soldier of fortune, daredevil, swashbuckling drifter-mercenary Jack Colton (Michael Douglas) surprised Joan when she saw his sailboat parked outside her Manhattan apartment. They were reunited when he lowered a ladder down the side and she climbed onboard. His crocodile boots were shown in close-up.

[After they last parted, he was presumed dead. The crocodile that had swallowed the emerald died of "indigestion" - Jack cut out the gem, then sold it and purchased a sailboat to voyage around the world. He was wearing crocodile shoes, made from the dead reptile.]

The film ended with their final lines to each other, as they hugged:

Joan: "I like your boots."
Jack: "Yup, that poor old yellow-tailed guy. Developed a fatal case of indigestion. He died right in my arms."
Joan: (dreamily, and in his arms) "I can't blame him. If I were to die, there's nowhere else on Earth I'd rather be."
Jack: "I couldn't stop thinking about you. I even read one of your books."
Joan: (smiling) "Then you know how they all end."
Jack: "Yeah. Hi."
Joan: "Hi."

Their conversation culminated with a long, passionate kiss -- she had found her "Jesse" (the hero of her romance novels).

Sixteen Candles (1984)

Classic Sweet 16 Birthday Kiss

In the final scene of writer/director John Hughes' coming-of-age romantic teen comedy, 16 year old virginal high school sophomore Samantha "Sam" Baker (Molly Ringwald) finally kissed the object of her affectionate infatuations -- class-hunk senior Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling).

The kiss occurred over a birthday cake with 16 lit and burning candles after she experienced a disastrous birthday-day. It was at Jake's house, where the two of them were sitting on the dining room table with the cake between them.

Their dialogue was short and sweet before the kiss:

Samantha: "Thanks for getting my undies back."
Jake: "Thanks for comin' over."
Samantha: "Thanks for coming to get me."
Jake: "Happy Birthday, Samantha. Make a wish."
Samantha: "It already came true."

They both slowly leaned forward to each other and kissed.

The Terminator (1984)

Time-Traveling Twisting Kiss and Love-Making

In a touching love scene in the Tiki Motel (with background piano music) in the year 1984, strong female character Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) kissed time traveling protector Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn).

Kyle had journeyed back from the future year of 2029 to save and love Sarah. He had volunteered with future resistance leader John Connor (who was fighting against the robots in the year 2029) to go back in time to protect her. She felt that she was a trembling, scared disappointment for him, and then asked: "The women in your time, what are they like?" He answered: "Good fighters." She steered the question differently: "That's not what I meant. Was there someone special?...A girl, you know." He succinctly replied: "Never."

He said he only possessed her torn and faded picture given to him by John:

"John Connor gave me a picture of you once. I didn't know why at the time. It was very old, torn, faded. You were young like you are now. You seemed just a little sad. I used to always wonder what you were thinking at that moment. I memorized every line, every curve. I came across time for you, Sarah. I love you. I always have."

Although he realized he had been forward and possibly foolish ("I shouldn't have said that"), she kissed him, and they made passionate love together.

During their passionate love-making, the camera cut to a metaphoric visual closeup of their two hands locked together, gripping and squeezing each other and then releasing.

Their conceived child would become humanity's future savior, John Connor.