chocolat

the year: 2000

the genre: drama


the cast: Juliet Binoche (Vianne); Judi Dench (Armande Viozin); Johnny Depp (Roux); Alfred Molina (Comte de Reynaud); Carrie-Anne Moss (Caroline Clairmont); Leslie Caron (Madame Audel); Lena Olin (Josephine Muscat); Peter Stormare (Serge Muscat); Helene Cardona (Francoise Drou)


the plot: Vianne Rocher and her young daughter are drifters who are met with skepticism and resistance when they move to a conservative town in rural France and open a chocolate shop during Lent. As Vianne begins to work her magic and help those around her, the townspeople are soon won-over by her exuberance and her delicious chocolates - except for the mayor, who is determined to shut her down. When a group of river drifters visit the town, Vianne teaches the townspeople something about acceptance, and finds love for herself along the way.


count: how many people attend Armande’s birthday dinner.


don’t miss: how the Easter window display turns out.


check out: Roux’s favorite kind of chocolate.


listen for: “Let me try to put this into perspective for you. The first Comte de Reynaud expelled all the radical Huguenots in this village. You and your truffles present a far lesser challenge.”


did you know: Johnny Depp doesn't like the taste of good chocolate - he prefers the cheap Easter bunny type.



extra bonus points: if you can watch this movie and not want at least a teeny bit of chocolate.

father goose

the year: 1961

the genre: drama


the cast: Cary Grant (Walter Christopher Eckland); Leslie Caron (Catherine Louise Marie Ernestine Freneau); Trevor Howard (Commander Frank Houghton); Jack Good (Lieutenant Stebbings)



the plot: It's WWII, and unkempt, scruffy American ex-patriate, Walter Eckland, is running from civilization. He finds himself recruited into the coast watcher service against his will by Commander Frank Houghton of the Royal Australian Navy with promises of whisky as a bribe. Making matters worse for the misanthropic Eckland is the arrival of French schoolmistress Catherine Freneau and her seven little-girl charges whom he has to rescue from the Japanese.


count: the number of nursery rhyme characters named throughout the course of the movie.


don’t miss: the snakebite segment.


check out: the name of Walter's boat, which he bought from Mr. Van De Hoven. It is "Vrolijkheid", which is Dutch for "Cheerfulness". Ironic, no?


listen for: “Let me tell you I am not a father figure. I am not a brother figure or an uncle figure or a cousin figure. In fact, the only figure I intend being is a total stranger figure.”


also listen for: “If you're waiting for the big finale, I'm sorry this is all I do.”


did you know: Cary Grant always claimed his role in this film was most like his real personality.


extra bonus points: if you can name the actress Cary Grant wanted to play the part of Catherine Freneau. She was already committed to act in another film – a role in which she was nominated for an Academy Award for best actress. (Hint: they co-starred in a movie the year before.)

i wanna...

dance on the penthouse balcony with Fred Astaire (from Daddy Long Legs).


have Dana Andrews fall asleep on my shoulder (from The Best Years of Our Lives).


attend Juliette Binoche's dinner party in Chocolat.


have dinner with Cary Grant (from The Bachelor and the Bobby-soxer).


have Frank Sinatra sing to me (from High Society).


What do you wanna?

daddy long legs

the year: 1955

the genre: musical

the cast: Fred Astaire (Jervis Pendleton III); Leslie Caron (Julie Andre); Thelma Ritter (Alicia Pritchard); Fred Clark (Griggs)




the plot: On a trip to France, millionaire Jervis Pendelton sees an 18 year old girl in an orphanage. Enchanted with her, he sponsors her to college in New England. She writes him letters, which he doesn't read. After 3 years, he goes to visit her at a dance, not telling her that he is her benefactor. They fall in love, but the usual movie-type difficulties get in the way before they can get together at the end.


count: the Pendleton portraits.

don’t miss: Julie's dress when she dances with Jervis on the penthouse balcony to "Something's Gotta Give." (sigh.)

check out: Griggs offering Miss Pritchard a drink.

listen for: "Mmmmmmmm! You're a dandy!"