man of la mancha

the year: 1972

the genre: musical


the cast: Peter O'Toole (Don Quixote de la Mancha / Miguel de Cervantes / Alonso Quijana); Sophia Loren (Dulcinea / Aldonza); James Coco (Sancho Panza / Cervante's manservant)


the plot: In the sixteenth century, Miguel de Cervantes, poet, playwright, and part-time actor, has been arrested, together with his manservant, by the Spanish Inquisition. They are accused of presenting an entertainment offensive to the Inquisition. Inside the huge dungeon into which they have been cast, the other prisoners gang up on Cervantes and his manservant, and begin a mock trial, with the intention of stealing or burning his possessions. Cervantes wishes to desperately save a manuscript he carries with him and stages, with costumes, makeup, and the participation of the other prisoners, an unusual defense--the story of Don Quixote.


don't miss: the great songs. Knight of the Woeful Countenance? A single tear.


listen for: "I can hear the cuckoo singing in the cuckooberry tree." "If he says that that's a helmet, I suggest that you agree."


did you know: Peter O'Toole recorded his vocal tracks for the film, but realized that his own singing voice was not good enough for the requirements of the music, so he assisted in the search for a voice double.



you can watch the movie in parts, starting here.

houseboat

the year: 1958

the genre: romance



the cast: Cary Grant (Tom Winters); Sophia Loren (Cinzia Zaccardi); Martha Hyer (Carolyn Gibson); Harry Guardino (Angelo Donatello)


the plot: Tom Winston, a widower, is trying to understand and raise three precocious children alone. He gets a little unexpected help from Cinzia, when the children decide she is to be the new maid. They don't know she is actually an Italian socialite who is trying to get away from her overprotective father.


don't miss: Tom and Cinzia's dance to "Almost in Your Arms".


check out: the cherry blossoms in the background as Tom and the children walk along the Potomac.


listen for: "Who sir, me sir? Yes sir, you sir. No sir, not I sir. Then sir, who sir?"


count: how many songs Robert knows on the harmonica.


did you know: Cary Grant initially accepted his role in Houseboat because he was dating Sophia Loren, whom he was madly in love with. After she married someone else, Grant, heartbroken, wanted to back out. He couldn't, but the director made sure the production was a smooth one.


extra bonus points: if you can name the TV show on which Paul Peterson (who played little David Winters) later starred.