best of: david niven

Bedtime Story (the original DRS):


Bachelor Mother:


Around the World in 80 Days:


Casino Royale (actually, it's a miracle that the Bond series took off from this, but...):


Happy Go Lovely:

murder by death

the year: 1976

the genre: comedy


the cast: Eileen Brennan (Tess Skeffington); Truman Capote (Lionel Twain); James Coco (Milo Perrier); Peter Falk (Sam Diamond); Alec Guinness (Bensonmum); Elsa Lanchester (Jessica Marbles); David Niven (Dick Charleston); Peter Sellers (Sidney Wang); Maggie Smith (Dora Charleston); Nancy Walker (the Maid); Estelle Winwood (Nurse Withers); James Cromwell (Marcel); Richard Narita (Willie Wang)


the plot: Millionnaire Lionel Twain invites the five most brilliant private eyes to a dinner - and a murder. Exactly at midnight, a murder is set to take place, and Mr. Twain offers a million dollars to the one who can solve the murder. Will the most brilliant minds of our time be able to see through the elaborate set-up staged by a criminal mastermind?


listen for: "Oh, there. Voice come from cow on wall..." "Moose! MOOSE, you imbecile!"


did you know: the screaming doorbell uses Fay Wray's screams from King Kong.


extra bonus points: if you can name all the "real" fictional detectives that this movie spoofs.


don't miss: two of my favorite scenes here.


also listen for: "I don't hear nothin'. What do you hear?" "Double negative, and dog."

around the world in 80 days

the year: 1956

the genre: drama


the cast: Cantinflas (Passepartout); David Niven (Phileas Fogg); Shirley MacLaine (Princess Aouda); Robert Newton (Mr. Fix)


the plot: When Phileas Fogg is challenged to prove his contention that a man can go around the world in 80 days, he bets his entire fortune and leaves with a new butler on a world tour. This Victorian adventure has a kicker: the Bank of England has been robbed. Is this Fogg's way of avoiding arrest? The detective following him believes so, and his butler is becoming unsure.


count: how many countries Fogg and Passepartout visit.


watch for: the bajillion famous actors/actresses in this movie...John Mills, Beatrice Lillie, Red Skelton, Frank Sinatra, Cesar Romero, Peter Lorre, Glynis Johns, Buster Keaton, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Coburn, Ronald Coleman, Charles Boyer, Hermione Gingold...



listen for: "You play an abominable game of whist, sir."


did you know: the barge used in Bangkok belonged to the King of Thailand, who lent it to producer Michael Todd.


extra bonus points: if you know how long this movie showed (consecutively) at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC.




don's miss: the 8,552 animals (3,800 sheep, 2,448 buffalo, 950 donkeys, 800 horses, 512 monkeys, 17 bulls, 15 elephants, 6 skunks, and 4 ostriches).


did you also know: this was the movie that popularized the term "cameo".


also listen for: "Madam, will you join me on the verandah? I understand they serve an outstanding lemon squash."

ask any girl

the year: 1959

the genre: comedy


the cast: Shirley Maclaine (Meg Wheeler); David Niven (Miles Doughton); Gig Young (Evan Doughton); Rod Taylor (Ross Tayford); Jim Backus (Maxwell)



the plot: Meg Wheeler moves to New York intent on enlarging her horizon — and by that she means finding a husband. After a series of mishaps, she finds herself in the office of Miles Doughton, head of an advertising firm, and being fascinated by Miles' younger brother Evan, talks Miles into helping her snare Evan - using the same methods he employs in his marketing business. Of course, during the course of it all, Miles and Meg fall in love with each other!




don't miss: Miles' research.


check out: Meg's answers to the consumer test.



count: how many gals are in Evan's little black book.



listen for: "Hot Chicken Mousse."




extra bonus points: if you can name another movie in which Shirley Maclaine co-starred with David Niven.




also watch for: the pom-pom sweater. You'll know it when you see it.


also check out: Meg's unique ability to invent plausible statistics to win arguments.



So gals, who would you go for: David Niven, Rod Taylor, or Gig Young?

the pink panther

the year: 1963

the genre: comedy. definitely.



the cast: David Niven (Sir Charles Lytton); Peter Sellers (Insp. Jacques Clouseau); Robert Wagner (George Lytton); Capucine (Simone Clouseau); Claudia Cardinale (Princess Dahla)


the plot: Inspector Clouseau is an expert on the exploits of The Phantom, a renowned jewel thief. He feels sure he knows where The Phantom will strike next and leaves Paris for Switzerland, where the famous Lugashi jewel 'The Pink Panther' is going to be. Vacationing at the deluxe Alpine resort, Sir Charles Lytton (The Phantom, of course) is indeed on the trail of the jewel - and although Clouseau has been after him for years, he is able to escape (perhaps because Clouseau's wife is Litton's lover and alerts him every time her husband draws near). Throw the gem's owner, Princess Dala, and Lytton's American nephew, George, in the mix and let the fun begin.



don't miss: the car chase. Classic Blake Edwards.


count: the gorillas.


check out: the disappearing cigarette when Princess Dala collapses on the rug.


did you know: Peter Ustinov was originally selected for the role of Inspector Clouseau?



listen for: "Simone! Where is my Surété-Scotland-Yard-type mackintosh?"


extra bonus points: if you know where Peter Sellers got the idea for his portrayal of Clouseau.



also listen for: "At times like this, I wish I was but a simple peasant."



did you also know: the film was intended to have David Niven's character Sir Charles Lytton as the main character. However, Peter Sellers' portrayal of Inspector Clouseau was so loved by the crew (and later by the audience) it became his character this film and the sequels focused on.