The romantic drama genre has its roots in classic literature, with works like Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and the Brontë sisters' "Jane Eyre" and "Wuthering Heights". These novels were later adapted into films, which became iconic representations of the genre. The 1940s and 1950s saw the rise of romantic dramas in Hollywood, with movies like "Casablanca" (1942), "Roman Holiday" (1953), and "Giant" (1956).