the mating game

the year: 1959

the genre: comedy



the cast: Paul Douglas (Pop larkin); Una Merkel (Ma Larkin); Debbie Reynolds (Mariette Larkin); Tony Randall (Lorenzo "Clarlie" Charlton); Fred Clark (Oliver Kelsey)



the plot: Irritated neighbor Wendell Burnshaw brings the Larkin family to the attention of the Internal Revenue Service. Lorenzo Charlton is assigned to the case and Ma and Pop Larkin warmly welcome him to their family farm in Maryland, at first unaware of why he is there. Lorenzo is aghast to learn that the Larkins have never filed a tax return. With their cooperation, he sets out to figure out what, if anything, they owe in the way of back taxes - a difficult task, as Pop usually just trades for what they need and keeps no records. Lorenzo and the eldest Larkin daughter Mariette become attracted to each other, but he doesn't let that get in the way of his work...at least not at first.




listen for: "Don't you boys have a project to work on?"





also listen for: "Lorenzo, what's holding you up down there?" "What's holding me up? The truth of the matter is I'm defying the law of gravity."




don't miss: Lorenzo's version of I've Got You Under My Skin.


also listen for: "You know, whenever I get in a nasty mood, I just come out here and I lie down and listen, and look. And in no time at all, whatever has been bothering me seems no bigger than one leaf on a whole tree. Now you tell me how much that's worth and I'll pay the taxes on it myself."






did you know: the film was loosely based on a British novel, The Darling Buds of May by H.E. Bates.

boys' night out

year: 1962

genre: comedy



the cast: Kim Novak (Cathy); James Garner (Fred Williams); Tony Randall (George Drayton); Howard Duff (Doug Jackson); Howard Morris (Howard McIllenny)





the plot: Fred, George, Doug and Howie are the boys. Their night out is sitting in their favorite bar every Thursday, deciding whether to go bowling or not until it's time to catch the 11:35 train. George loves to talk but his wife won’t let him get a word in edgewise. Doug loves to fix things, but his wife hires repairmen to keep up appearances. Howie’s wife is on a diet, which means he is, too. And then there’s Fred. He lives with his mother – who wants grandchildren. One evening the decision is made (much to Fred's dismay) to split a “love nest” in the city and Fred is volunteered by the others to be the one responsible for finding the right place (and girl). After he signs the lease and while waiting for the boys to show up, Fred has "ti many martoonis" and mistakenly believes that Cathy has come about the ad for the "companion" and not for the apartment. Cathy agrees to the deal because she is a post-grad sociology student and wants to use the boys in her studies.



listen for: "Isn't it amazing how much post graduate work goes on in this town?"



don’t miss: Cathy giving each of the guys what they really need: a listening ear, a broken record player, a gourmet meal, and love. (Awww.)





also listen for: “Wednesday was there Wednesday, Thursday was there last Sunday, yet you remember last Sunday's Thursday better than yesterday's Wednesday. Interesting, no?”


also listen for: "If there's one thing I hate it's guys who chippen out when the chicks are down."



check out: James Garner, Little League coach.