When watching a love story, you want to believe that the two actors falling in love could be a couple. The chemistry just has to be there for it to work. These 10 Classic Film onscreen couples all had chemistry in spades — enough to make you believe that they could really fall in love.
William Powell and Myrna Loy – The Thin Man (1934)
William Powell and Myrna Loy have some of the best onscreen chemistry ever. They were in 13 movies together throughout the ’30s and ’40s but their most memorable pairing is in The Thin Man. The two wisecrack their way into our hearts and make us believe that they are a married couple who love each other dearly.
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers – Top Hat (1935)
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers starred in 10 films together. They were excellent dance partners, giving each move an ethereal feeling. Due to their great chemistry as dance partners, they had great chemistry in each movie they starred in together.
Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant – Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Bringing Up Baby is a Screwball comedy that may seem like a weird addition to this list, considering Cary Grant’s character tries his best to get away from Katharine Hepburn’s character. The two match each other with their comedy and their chemistry is out of this world. This makes it believable when they get together at the end of the film (sorry for the spoiler).
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman – Casablanca (1942)
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman are absolutely electric in Casablanca. They play ex-spouses and Bogart’s Rick has to decide whether or not to help Bergman’s Ilsa and her husband run away from Nazis. Even though they aren’t technically supposed to be together, you root for them the whole movie!
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn – Woman of the Year (1942)
Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were in nine films together. Nine films are a lot to be in together, so something must have been right, right? These two were a secret couple in real life, which makes sense as to why they worked so well on the screen.
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall – To Have and Have Not (1944)
Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart were in four films together and were electric on the screen. This probably had to do with the fact that they fell in love with each other while making this film. If you want to see real chemistry, check out this movie!
Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint – On the Waterfront (1954)
Eva Marie Saint and Marlon Brando were not a couple in real life, yet that is hard to believe when they are on the screen together. The electricity flowing between them cannot be denied. In On the Waterfront, the two share a kiss that is tame by today’s standards but is surprising that it got by the censors in the 50s.
Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward – The Long, Hot Summer (1958)
Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman worked on over 15 movies together, whether it be both acting in the films or Newman directing or producing the film. They became a real-life couple during the filming of The Long, Hot Summer and it’s like the audience is watching them fall in love on the screen.
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Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor – Cleopatra (1963)
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had one of the most passionate love stories on and offscreen. Cleopatra is a long film with its fair share of issues, but people wanted to see this pair that were tabloids’ favorite subject. Their pairing in the film is what makes it memorable, not necessarily the film as a whole.
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Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway – Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Bonnie and Clyde is one of the first New Hollywood films, however, it is a classic so it is being used for this list. Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty have such chemistry in this film that you sort of believe they are Bonnie and Clyde.
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