Can you help? I am looking for recommendations for films that produce a strong emotional response, tear jerkers like Love Story that also stand up as impressive pieces of film making - no made for TV schmaltz please!

Hi E.Stone,
I'm sure you're aware of Brief Encounter. In The Mood For Love is a Hong Kong set film along similar lines and is beautifully shot and acted.
Away from the more obvious, look into A Tale Of Two Sisters or Phone, two recent Korean films which though ostensibly horror movies pack an incredible emotional punch once all is made clear.
Ikiru by Kurosawa is an acknowledged masterpiece of tear jerking artistry as well, and if that doesn't work, then there's more recent The Twilight Samurai which is almost unbearably poignant. I can't even begin to talk about it for fear of blubbing like a baby.
I'm sure there's loads more but I really would encourage you to seek out art and world cinema, which will truly stand up to the test of being impressive pieces of film-making. More so than Hollywood films in my humble opinion.
Good luck.

I cried during "Sophie's Choice", with Merryl Streep and Kevin Klein. And that was before I became a father of twins.

Please try Madam X with Lana Turner, a great film and very emotional.

The Bridges of Madison County, Terms of Endearment and Waterloo Bridge. Tearjerkers even after several viewings!

thank you so much everyone who has replied to me so far, i am really grateful for your suggestions and am starting my film fest today!

esther x

You really should watch 'Dark Victory' with Bette Davis or a lovely wee B movie called 'Come next Spring' but please stock up on Kleenex first - enjoy !

the day they gave babies away - glynis johns - 10 boxes of tissues and your nose will be red for months

I agree with Mrs Smith - Dark Victory is the one. In fact quite a few of Bette Davis' prewar movies can do damage to the tear ducts. Now, Voyager for example.

Miracle in the Rain, starring Jane Wyman and Van Johnson set in wartime New York of 1942. An absolute gem of a weepie.

Two Men In Town, an old French movie with Jean Gabin, Alain Delon et al. Not exactly sentimental, but the emotional bomb at the end is crushing. Might be not so easy to find, though.
Dancer In the Dark by Lars von Trier.

Try Letter From An Unknown Woman (1948) Joan Fontaine/Louis Jourdan or any version of BACK STREET (1931/1941 or even 1961)

Another strong endorsement here for "Letter From an Unknown Woman" which I remember from the first time around in 1948, and the first time I saw Louis Jourdan play ... he lived until this past year. With a musical slant, "Red Shoes" (the Ballets Lermontov with Anton Walbrook, Moira Shearer, Marius Goring, Ludmilla Tcherina, Robert Helpmann (ugh!), Leonid Massine, Albert Bassermann), Sir Thomas Beecham conducting music by Brian Easkdale and Tchaikovsky); and "I've Always Loved You" (Philip Dorn as the concert-pianist Goronoff, Marie Ouspenskaya as his very Russian belle mere, soundtrack piano by Artur Rubinstein). I'm sure I've mis-spelt half of these, and am looking now doubtfully at Ludmilla Tcherina, but you'll get the idea.

I totally agree with C.Madden. Waterloo Bridge with Robert Taylor and Vivien Leigh definitely stands the test of time. Made in 1940,this romantic tear-jerker is one of the very best. All I can say is watch it,you won't be disappointed!

can anyone tell me where i would get the film little men? its a follow up to little women

You could try 'Tim' starring a young Mel Gibson and piper laurie from 1979

If you're willing to watch a silent film, then you should watch "City Lights" -- and bring plenty of tissues.

The only film that's ever made me really really cry was 'The Champ' when I was a kid in the early eighties, was so genuinely upset at the end of that film. Can't remember ever seeing it since, but wonder if it would still make me cry.

A few others I can remember finding upsetting were 'Awakenings', 'Terms of Endearment', 'Stand By Me', 'A.W.O.L. (Absent Without Leave)', 'The Empire Strikes Back', 'Revenge Of The Sith', 'Robocop', 'Seven Samurai', 'Big', 'Breaking Away', 'Schindler's List' and 'The Way Home'.

I know a lot of the above aren't typical weepies and some of my choices probably look out of place, but just saying what I have found upsetting.

incredible journey the two of them are weepies and you can laugh as well

with madam x there was another film called back street and imitation of life and of course wonderful life was the best

Seeing as you've mentioned Chaplin, I would add "The Kid" and "The Circus" too.

One of the best weepies that I have watched was, An Affair to Remember. It starred Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. I have watched it a few times and It still makes me weep. I had it on video and have just bought it on DVD, from Amazon....Brilliant film!

Unstrung Heroes is a wonderful film and a real weepie

If you want to cry for hours try Imitation of Life with Lana Turner and John Gavin. A classic from 1959 and starring a young Sandra Dee.

Re. "Imitation Of Life"
I second that!
I've watched the film many, many times and it never fails to tug at the old heartstrings!