bedknobs and broomsticks

the year: 1971

the genre: musical


the cast: Angela Lansbury (Miss Price); David Tomlinson (Emelius Browne); Roddy McDowall (Mr. Jelk)


the plot: In August of 1940 in the English village of Pepperinge Eye, three cockney orphans are sent to live with Eglantine Price, who is studying to become an apprentice witch. When she receives a letter from the Correspondence College of Witchcraft in London, she and the children fly on a bed (by way of a magic bedknob) to London to meet the headmaster of the defunct school, Emelius Browne. The adventures begin from there.


don't miss: the soccer match.


extra bonus points: if you know which movie The Beautiful Briny Sea was originally written for.


listen for: "Now, I shall place the framed glass in this brown, unprepared - unprepared mark you ladies and gentlemen - unprepared brown paper bag."


did you know: the armor in the climactic battle with the Nazis was authentic medieval armor, previously used in Camelot and El Cid. When any item of armor was to be destroyed, exact fiberglass replicas were created and used.

the court jester

the year: 1955

the genre: comedy



the cast: Danny Kaye (Hubert Hawkins); Glynis Johns (Maid Jean); Basil Rathbone (Sir Ravenhurst); Angela Lansbury (Princess Gwendolyn); Cecil Parker (King Roderick); Mildred Natwick (Griselda)



the plot: The throne of rightful king of England, the small babe with the purple pimpernel birthmark (on his royal backside), has been usurped by evil King Roderick. Only the Black Fox can restore the true king to the throne--and all he needs is the king's key to a secret tunnel. While he's trying to steal it, someone has to change the king's diapers. The task falls to Hawkins, the gentlest member of the Fox's band. The Fox's lieutenant, Maid Jean, guards Hawkins and the babe while they travel, but when they meet the King's new jester on the road, they decide to initiate a daring plan for Hawkins to replace him, become an intimate at the court, and steal the key. So, humble Hawkins becomes Giacomo: king of jesters and jester to the king. But things begin to get zany when the King's daughter falls for Giacomo, the King falls for Jean, people randomly sing what are supposed to be recognition codes, and a witch with very effective spells (and poison pellets) begins to interfere.




don’t miss: Danny Kaye’s tights. Producers of the film made him wear 'leg falsies' to improve the shape of his legs. This adds a touch of irony when Hubert Hawkins offers the princess all of him, including his legs and calves.



listen for: “I'll take one of those, one of those, ooh, a couple of those. “



did you know: that Basil Rathbone was 63 when TCJ was filmed? He was a world-class fencer and it was due to his efforts that the hilarious fencing scene was filmed without injury. He later admitted that several times he was almost skewered by Danny Kaye's sword.




extra bonus points: if you can name the famous detective Basil Rathbone played in the 30s and 40s. (Pretty good movies if you ever get a chance to watch!)

the reluctant debutante

the year: 1958

the genre: comedy


the cast: Sandra Dee (Jane Broadbent); Rex Harrison (Jimmy Broadbent); Kay Kendall (Sheila Broadbent); Angela Lansbury (Mabel Claremont); John Saxon (David Parkson)


the plot: When 17-year-old Jane Broadbent comes to London to live with her wealthy father Jimmy Broadbent, her stepmother Sheila feels compelled by her social aspirations to introduce her to society. Jane is bored by the debutante balls she attends and the young men she is introduced to, but becomes interested in a drummer named David Parkson, who has a reputation for leading young women astray. As it turns out, Parkson's reputation is undeserved, but Sheila is convinced otherwise, and she tries to keep him away from Jane.


count: the number of times Jane says, “But I love David, and David loves me!”


don’t miss: David Fenner’s traffic updates.


check out: the trailer here.


listen for: “Marble Arch, five-one, OH-one.”

the scene: David Fenner arrives to propose to Jane, who rejects him to Sheila's dismay. Sheila tearfully insists that she only wanted the best for Jane and pleads with her not to see David Parkson. Having read about David Parkson's inheritance and title in the paper, Jimmy suggests that they invite the Duke of Positano (David Parkson) to Jane's ball that evening.



extra bonus points: if you can name the 2003 movie loosely based on The Reluctant Debutante.