Heading further into our top five of our Most Romantic Movies chart we reach number four and Doctor Zhivago, which was released in 1965.Loosely based on the famous novel by Boris Pasternak Doctor Zhivago starred Omar Sharif and Julie Christie and went on to be one of the biggest box office hits.David Lean's Doctor Zhivago is an exploration of the Russian Revolution as seen from the point of view of the intellectual, introspective title character (Omar Sharif). As the political landscape changes, and the Czarist regime comes to an end, Dr. Zhivago's relationships reflect the political turmoil raging about him. Though he is married, the vagaries of war lead him to begin a love affair with the beautiful Lara (Julie Christie). But he cannot escape the machinations of a band of selfish and cruel characters: General Strelnikov (Tom Courtenay), a Bolshevik General; Komarovsky (Rod Steiger), Lara's former lover; and Yevgraf (Alec Guinness), Zhivago's sinister half-brother.
David Lean used beautiful cinematography and set design, along with excellent performances from the principle cast, to give doctor Zhivago timeless appeal.
However many criticised the film upon release mainly about how the romance between Zhivago and Lara was depicted and the length of the film.
Despite the Doctor Zhivago went on to be a box office smash and remains popular even to this day.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw