walk, don't run

the year: 1966

the genre: comedy

the cast: Cary Grant (Sir William Rutland); Samantha Eggar (Christine Easton); Jim Hutton (Steve Davis); John Standing (Julius D. Haversack)






the plot: Sir William Rutland ("Bill") arrives in Tokyo a couple days early before the Olympic Games of 1964. With no hotel rooms available anywhere, Bill pulls a notice card from the British Embassy's bulletin board and talks his way into subletting a room in Christine Easton's apartment. Soon, Bill encounters Steve Davis, an architecture student and Olympic athlete, who also has no room for the night, so he sublets part of the apartment to Davis. Bill then plays matchmaker to the younger pair.






count: the number of times Steve successfully avoids identifying the event he’ll be participating in at the Olympics.






don’t miss: the mystery of the missing pants.




check out: the trailer here




listen for: “You remind me of myself when I was younger, only I was MUCH taller."




extra bonus points: if you can identify the song Bill whistles while making his morning coffee.

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.

how to marry a millionaire

the year: 1953

the genre: comedy

the cast: Lauren Bacall (Schatze Page); Betty Grable (Loco Dempsey); Marilyn Monroe (Pola Debevoise); William Powell (J.D. Hanley); David Wayne (Freddie Denmark); Cameron Mitchell (Tom Brookman); Rory Calhoun (Eben); Fred Clark (Waldo Brewster)


the plot: Three New York models move into a Manhattan penthouse apartment and set out to find eligible millionaire bachelors to marry. Do they choose love or money?


count: the acreage of trees that "belong to" Eben.


don’t miss: my favorite scene: “Men aren't attentive to girls who wear glasses.”






check out: the poetic justice for Mr. Brewster.


listen for: “We'd better put a check on that one. Nobody's mother lives in Atlantic City on Saturday.”



extra bonus points: if you know why Schatze’s line “I've always liked older men... Look at that old fellow what's-his-name in The African Queen. Absolutely crazy about him.” is so funny.

man's favorite sport

the year: 1964

the genre: comedy


the cast: Rock Hudson (Roger Willoughby); Paula Prentiss (Abigail Page); John McGiver (William Cadwalader); Norman Alden (John Screaming Eagle)


the plot: Roger Willoughby is considered to be a leading expert on sports fishing. He's written books on the subject and is loved by his customers in the sporting goods department at Abercrombie and Fitch, where he works. There's only one problem however: he's never been fishing in his life. When his boss enters him in a fishing contest, mayhem ensues.


count: how much money John Screaming Eagle makes off Roger.

don’t miss: Roger putting up the tent.


listen for: "Not even Confucius."

check out: quite possibly the most random ending ever.



extra bonus points: if you can name who did the music for this movie. Clue.

charade

the year: 1963

the genre: suspense - the best Hitchcock film that Hitchcock never made.

the cast: Audrey Hepburn (Regina Lampert); Cary Grant (Peter Joshua); Hamilton Bartholemew (Walter Matthau)


the plot: Regina Lambert returns to Paris from a ski holiday in Switzerland to find that her husband has been murdered. She is told by CIA agent Hamilton Bartholemew that Charles Lambert was one of five men who stole $250,000 in gold from the U.S. government during World War II, and the government wants it back. The money was not found among his possessions, and Regina can shed no light on its whereabouts. When her husband's former partners in crime (who were double-crossed by Charles) start calling her looking for the money, Peter Joshua (whom Reggie met briefly while on holiday) offers to help her find it. And thus begins the elaborate charade.


count: Charles Lampert's passports.

don’t miss: the tongue-in-cheek reference to "On the Street Where You Live" from My Fair Lady (which Audrey starred in and would be released the next year).

check out: the scene where Reggie spills ice cream on Adam's suit. It was based on the real-life accident where Audrey spilled red wine all over Cary Grant's suit at the dinner where they first met.

listen for: "We'll have lots of boys and name them all after you." and Henry Mancini's fabulous score.

guys and dolls

the year: 1955

the genre: musical


the cast: Frank Sinatra (Nathan Detroit); Vivian Blaine (Miss Adelaide); Marlon Brando (Sky Masterson); Jean Simmons (Sarah Brown); Stubby Kaye (Nicely-Nicely Johnson)


the plot: All the hot gamblers are in town, and they're all depending on Nathan Detroit to set up his floating crap game. The only problem is, he needs $1000 to get the place. Throw in Sarah Brown, who's short on sinners at the mission she runs; Sky Masterson, who accepts Nathan's $1000 bet that he can't get Sarah Brown to go with him to Havana; Miss Adelaide, who wants Nathan to marry her; and Police Lieutenant Brannigan, who always seems to appear at the wrong time and you've got quite a show.


count: the number of times Miss Adelaide sneezes


don’t miss: Benny Southstreet pleading the 5th Commandment.


check out: the fantastic gambler names (Harry the Horse, Society Max, Big Jule, Angie the Ox, and Liverlips Louie)


listen for: "These dice ain't got no spots!"



extra bonus points: if you know Sky Masterson's real name.