it happened on 5th avenue

the year: 1947

the genre: comedy


the cast: Don DeFore (Jim Bullock); Gale Storm (Trudy O'connor); Victor Moore (Aloysius T. Mckeever); Ann Harding (Mary O'Connor); Charles Ruggles (Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor)


the plot: Each November third, Aloysuis T. McKeever moves into the vacated mansion of millionaire Michael O’Connor for the winter - since O'Connor is snowbirding in Virginia. McKeever’s idyllic home life is shaken up when he invites Jim Bullock to stay with him. Jim is an ex-serviceman who can’t find housing - he's just been evicted because O’Connor is tearing down Bullock’s apartment building to build offices. They soon "take in" Trudy, a girl they think is poor and all alone in New York, but who is really the runaway college daughter of O’Connor. Soon, they are also joined by two service buddies of Jim’s and their families.

Christmas is approaching and O’Connor finds Trudy working in a music store. She tells him everything and convinces him to pretend to be poor and out of work so he can meet Jim (who Trudy has fallen in love with), and the fun kicks into high gear from there.


don't miss: how McKeever rigs the fuse box so he'll know if someone comes in the mansion.


listen for: "Brady calling in. Everything okay at the O'Connor house. (wink) Exceptionally okay."


extra bonus points: if you know why the guy who plays Whitey Temple (one of Jim's army buddies) looks familiar.


This is one I recently saw for the first time and fell in love with. It's available on DVD or you can watch the movie in parts starting here.

the parent trap

the year: 1961

the genre: comedy



the cast: Hayley Mills (Susan Evers / Sharon McKendrick); Maureen O’Hara (Margaret “Maggie” McKendrick); Brian Keith (Mitch Evers); Charles Ruggles (Charles McKendrick); Leo G. Carroll (Reverand Moseby); Una Merkel (Verbena)



the plot: Thirteen year olds prim and proper Bostonian Sharon McKendrick and tomboyish Californian Susan Evers meet at summer camp. It's hate at first sight because besides the differing length of their hair, they look exactly the same. After the girls carry out one battle after another against each other, the camp administrators place the two in solitary confinement with each other. Since they’re stuck with each other, the girls finally get a chance to know each other and learn that they are indeed twins, separated when they were babies when their parents divorced. Wanting to get to know the parent they never met, Sharon and Susan decide to switch places. They figure that their parents would ultimately have to 'un-switch' them, and the girls hope when they do, they will fall in love all over again. In California their plan hits a snag when Mitch introduces his daughter to Vicky Robinson, who aspires to be the second Mrs. Mitchell Evers. Sharon and Susan have to figure out a way to get rid of Vicky and bring Maggie to California quickly so that their parents can reconcile and the foursome can be one big happy family.



count: how many time Verbina says “I don’t say a word.”



don’t miss: Miss Inch’s welcome to the girls at camp.


check out: Reverend Moseby. And Grandpa McKendrick. It’s a toss up for which I like more.




listen for: “That plus-faced child bride and her electric hips!”




also listen for: “I shan't tell my aunt about the ants nor the debutantes. Shall I?”



did you know: the screenplay originally called for only a few trick photography shots of Hayley Mills in scenes with herself - the bulk of the film was to be shot using a body double. But when Walt Disney saw how seamless the processed shots were, he ordered the script reconfigured to include more of the special effect.




extra bonus points: if you can name the two artists who sang the title song. Hint: they were on the lot shooting Babes in Toyland.

i'd rather be rich

the year: 1964

the genre: comedy

the cast: Sandra Dee (Cynthia Dulaine); Robert Goulet (Paul Benton); Andy Williams (Warren Palmer); Maurice Chevalier (Philip Dulaine); Hermione Gingold (Miss Grimshaw); Charles Ruggles (Dr. Crandall)


the plot: A young heiress is summoned to the bedside of her dying grandfather. The man's last wish is to meet her fiance, but problems arise when the fiance is delayed and a young chemical engineer is persuaded to take his place. When the grandfather suddenly (and secretly) recovers, he uses the situation to his advantage - playing matchmaker in an attempt to ensure his granddaughter's happiness.


count: the number of times Cynthia’s feet hurt.




don’t miss: Miss Grimshaw's attempts to foil Mr. Dulaine's cigar smoking.


check out: the joy that is Heavenly Haven.



listen for: “Chicken?! THAT’S for the chicken.”



extra bonus points: for naming the two Disney movies from the 60s where Charles Ruggles is a shopkeeper and a grandfather.