What is Richard’s favorite pick-up line?

Curtain-raisers:

• Birthday greetings to Valentine Babies Kris Aquino, John Prats, Heart Evangelista, Rico J. Puno and Sen. Johnny Ponce-Enrile.

• Evangeline Pascual’s radio program Echoes of the Heart marks its 12th anniversary on Friday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on DWZ 882AM with a special episode on leprosy survivors showing their talents and abilities.

• Ramon Jacinto’s RJ Bar (Jupiter St., Bel-Air Village, Makati City) is launching new nightly acts that include Dale Adriatico, Art Manuntag, Tiongco Brothers and other veterans who will take the audience on a much-welcome trip down memory lane.

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Perhaps believing that action speaks better than words, some people have no patience resorting to any sugar-flavored lines to win somebody’s heart. They make a short cut by just handing over the key to whatever room he or she is in. Of course, "discreet" showbiz people who can’t have a rendezvous abroad (Bangkok, perhaps?) do it in a subtle manner right at home — you know, one goes ahead and texts his/her partner the room number for him/her to follow. Very neat! But they should be careful about ordering "room service" because bellboys have a thousand eyes and ears.

It’s Valentine’s Day and it’s a good time for everybody — young and old, married or un-married, separated or happily together — to be romantic and do away with "short cuts" (to be differentiated from, well, "biglang-liko" if you know what it means).

What a better way to hook anybody than to drop pick-up lines?

Asked what his favorite pick-up line is, Richard Gutierrez, who once again co-stars with perennial screen sweetheart Angel Locsin in another Valentine movie, The Promise (joint venture of GMA Films and Regal Entertainment), blushed, "No, I don’t have any favorite pick-up line simply because I don’t pick up girls. I’ve never picked up a girl and neither have I ever been picked up by anybody."

But to break the ice, so to speak, Richard said that he makes sure that he compliments the girl (especially if a new acquaintance) on her nice hair, nice dress and nice bedimpled smile.

You wonder, has any girl ever "dared" break the heart of a gorgeous guy like Richard?

"Oo naman," admitted Richard, "several times na, especially when I was in high school, first at La Salle Greenhills and then at the Beverly Hills High School in the US."

How does he mend his broken heart?

"Life has to go on. No, I don’t sulk; I try to spend more time with my family and friends."

And how many hearts has he broken?

"Quite a few," smiled Richard.

His idea of a perfect Valentine date is a nice, intimate dinner in a private place. But since, like most showbiz guys, he has to work on Valentine’s Day, Richard can’t remember any memorable Valentine date.

"Since 2005, I’ve been busy promoting my movies during the Valentine season. First was Let The Love Begin, followed by I Will Always Love You and now The Promise."

In all three movies (and a few others, like the recent Mano Po), Richard is paired with Angel Locsin whom he described as "very sweet and very friendly, with beautiful, expressive eyes."

Like that of Vilma Santos and Christopher de Leon, Richard and Angel’s team-up clicks even if they are not sweethearts in real life. He’s committed to somebody else while Angel has just broken up with Oyo Sotto.

"I prefer to describe our relationship as a ‘great friendship’," said Richard who offered his shoulder for Angel to cry on on the set of The Promise (directed by Mark Tuviera). "We have good chemistry. We don’t mislead movie fans into thinking that there’s something more than ‘great friendship’ between us. Also, our movies have interesting stories."

Inspired by Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, The Promise features Richard and Angel in "more mature" roles that require them to engage in torrid kissing/love scenes. "Very passionate," added Richard. "We can’t be young forever. We have to grow up somehow."

Famous Hollywood pick-up lines

And speaking of pick-up lines, here are some culled from classic Hollywood movies:

• "Mind if I get drunk with you?" (delivered by Jean Harlow as Vantine to Clark Gable as Dennis in Red Dust)

• "It’s midnight. Look at the clock. One hand has met the other hand. They kiss. Isn’t that wonderful?" (by Melvyn Douglas as Leon to Greta Garbo as Ninotchka in Ninotchka)

• "Was that cannon fire, or is it my heart pounding?" (by Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa to Humphrey Bogart as Rick in Casablanca)

• "What’s the matter with me? I’m gay. I’m lovable, and I’ve got good teeth." (by Robert Montgomery as Carey to Bette Davis as Linda in June Bride)

• "Marry me and I’ll never look at another horse." (by Groucho Marx as Dr. Hugo Z. Hackenbush to Margaret Dumont as Emily in A Day at the Races)

• "You know, when you blow out the match, it’s an invitation to kiss you." (by John Gilbert as Lee to Greta Garbo as Felicitas in Flesh and the Devil)

• "I like older men. They’re so grateful." (by Greta Garbo as Karen to Melvyn Douglas as Larry in Two-Faced Woman)

• "You’re going to have love for breakfast, love for luncheon, and love for dinner." (by Bette Davis as Joyce to Leslie Howard as Basil in It’s Love I’m After)

• "You’re beautiful when you’re angry." (by Clark Gable as Colonel Deventer to Lana Turner as Carla in Betrayed)

• "Give me a kiss or I’ll sock you." (by John Garfield as Frank to Lana Turner as Gina in The Postman Always Rings Twice)

• " We’re going to know each other eventually, why not now?" (by Humphrey Bogart as Rick to Mary Astor as Alberta in Across the Pacific)

• "Here’s looking at you, kid." (by Humphrey Bogart as Rick to Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa in Casablanca)

• "I like your eyes, do you mind?" (by Greta Garbo as Yvonne to Robert Montgomery as Andre in Inspiration)

• "Oh, now don’t turn ordinary on me. I get tired of ordinary dames. And I don’t want to get tired of you." (by Robert Taylor as Johnny to Lana Turner as Lisbeth in Johnny Eager)

• "Everything wrong with you, I like." (by Van Johnson as Captain Randall to Irene Dunne as Dorinda in A Guy Named Joe)

(Note: These memorable pick-up lines are from 30 Movie Flash Cards taken from the Turner Classic Movies Archives.)

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