Schmaltzy, slow-motion over-romanticized TV commercials, pre-1984

February 15, 2019 6:42 PM

Good evening Meta-folks, I am still writing my story which takes place in 1984. I want to use a simile or metaphor by comparing an incident in my story to one of those many schmaltzy, trite, over-romanticized TV commercials featuring a man and a woman running toward each other——in slow motion——on the beach, with zealous smiles, water splashing and it all ending with the woman making a glorious leap into the man’s arms. I have two questions. First what product(s) were these commercials for and secondly, did any of these commercials take place BEFORE 1984? Thank you for any help you might be able to provide.
posted by Ira Weston to Society & Culture (14 answers total)

Being in my late forties I obviously remember the eighties, but this is an instance where something that probably should evoke at least one or two vivid, relevant memories has me drawing a blank instead. I know I've seen images of a man and woman running towards each other, but A) if memory serves they were from comedy films or sketches, and therefore satirical, plus B) I don't even remember which movies or comedy sketches. The only vaguely similar commercials that come to mind would be the really sappy and pretentious ones for Chanel No. 5. One of them involved a man swimming from one end of a swimming pool to another, where a woman is sunbathing. Come to think of it, Calvin Klein has a time-honored tradition of exceedingly cheesy commercials as well, like this one from 1987, though it too lacks the "man and woman running towards one another on a beach" imagery you're looking for. Sorry I wasn't of more help, and good luck with your story.
posted by DavidfromBA at 7:37 PM on February 15, 2019 [3 favorites]

One commercial product that springs to mind is K-Tel Records.
posted by Autumnheart at 7:40 PM on February 15, 2019

Meadow Run: "Two lovers run toward each other in slow motion across a meadow filled with flowers and butterflies, arms spread, totally suffused in the joy of their reunion, as Tchaikovsky's Love Theme from the Overture to Romeo and Juliet or Pachelbel's Canon in D (or some other piece deemed romantic) plays on the soundtrack."
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:46 PM on February 15, 2019

You can look at ads here.
posted by Ideefixe at 7:47 PM on February 15, 2019

Kermit and Miss Piggy did it in 1979...
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:49 PM on February 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

Riunite has this concept with a gondola 1983</a
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:13 PM on February 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Ashley and Melanie did it in Gone With the Wind, which was both shown on TV and re-released in theaters in the mid-70s.
posted by elphaba at 8:16 PM on February 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

I also thought Wind Song had something like this but I'm not finding it.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:21 PM on February 15, 2019

"The closer he gets, the better you look" Miss Clairol Nice n Easy hair color, 1968. I'm sure it was a tv commercial as well.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:26 PM on February 15, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Here's the tv commercial for it. Has beach, arm waving, running in slow motion, leap into arms at end.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:39 PM on February 15, 2019 [4 favorites]

Panama Cigars 'Chest Wig' TV Ad, if you don't mind parody.
posted by MonkeyToes at 8:20 AM on February 16, 2019

I remember a horrible one depicting a man ogling his partner in a bedroom as she gets ready to go out.

"What are you doing?"
"Watching you"
"What are you doing?" Uncomfortable giggle.
"Watching you" Leer.
"What are you doing?" Increased discomfort.
"Watching you...."
camera pull back depicting them in a soft focus clinch with clothes beginning to be loosened.

I think it was for a perfume.
posted by brujita at 9:37 AM on February 16, 2019

Response by poster: Thank you, everyone who replied! What a great variety of answers there were in illustrating this concept. I enjoyed reading each answer and I especially enjoyed seeing the attached videos/illustrations. I have no idea how you are able to find these things but I sure do appreciate that you can. Have a sweeeeeet day!
posted by Ira Weston at 1:41 PM on February 16, 2019

Nescafe did a series of romantic coffee commercials. But I don't recall any running through field. I'm seconding the Clairol thing, but I kinda think there was a similar Tampax or Kotex one, weirdly.
posted by Enid Lareg at 7:45 AM on February 17, 2019