casablanca

the year: 1942

the genre: drama


the cast: Humphrey Bogart (Rick Blaine); Ingrid Bergman (Ilsa Lund); Paul Henreid (Victor Lazlo); Claude Rains (Captain Renault); Sydney Greenstreet (Signor Ferrari); Peter Lorre (Ugarte); S Z Sakall (Carl); Conrad Veidt (Major Srasser)


the plot: In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, local police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick's surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick's one time love. Ilsa knows Rick can help them get out of the country - but will he?


don't miss: Dooley Wilson as Sam (ironically, he was the only cast member to have actually visited the real city of Casablanca) and the famous song "As Time Goes By".




listen for: "What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?" "My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters." "The waters? What waters? We're in the desert." "I was misinformed."



did you know: In the 1980s, this film's script was sent to a number of major studios and production companies under its original title, "Everybody Comes to Rick's". Some recognized the script but most did not. Many complained that the script was "not good enough" to make a decent movie. Others gave such complaints as "too dated", "too much dialog" and "not enough sex".



don't listen for" "Play it again, Sam." That line was never spoken in the movie. Ilsa says "Play it, Sam. Play 'As Time Goes By"' and Rick says: "You played it for her, you can play it for me. Play it!".


also listen for: "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!" "Your winnings, sir." "Oh, thank you very much."






This one's a classic, for sure. But I have to admit, one of the reasons I like it so much is that without it we wouldn't have this:

mr. magorium's wonder emporium

the year: 2007

the genre: fantasy


the cast: Dustin Hoffman (Mr. Edward Magorium, Avid Shoe-Wearer); Natalie Portman (Molly Mahoney, Composer); Zach Mills (Eric Applebaum, Hat Collector); Jason Bateman (Henry "Mutant" Weston)


the plot: Molly Mahoney is the manager of Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, the awesome toy store owned by Mr. Edward Magorium. Molly was a promising composer and piano player when she was a girl, and now she is a twenty-three year-old insecure woman that feels stuck in her job. Among the costumers of the Emporium is the lonely hat collector, Eric Applebaum, who has only Molly and Mr. Magorium for friends. When the last pair of shoes that Mr. Magorium bought in Toscana is worn, he hires the accountant, Henry Weston to adjust the accounts of the Emporium. Furthermore, he claims that he is two hundred and forty-three years old and his time to go has come; he gives a block of wood called Congreve cube to Molly and asks Henry to transfer the Emporium to her name. Molly tries to convince Mr. Magorium to stay in his magical toy store instead of "going".


don't miss: Eric's skill in building with Lincoln Logs.


listen for:"Mortimer, fetch!" "Stupid zebra."


also listen for: "Your life is an occasion. Rise to it."


extra bonus points: Mahoney and Mr. Magorium choose to start jumping on the mattresses in the mattress store on the count of "triscadecaphobia." What is triscadecaphobia?

kiss them for me

the year: 1957

the genre: dramedy


the cast: Cary Grant (Cmdr. Andy Crewson); Jayne Mansfield (Alice Kartzner); Suzy Parker (Gwinneth Livingston); Ray Walston (Lt. J.G. McCann); Larry Blyden (Mississip); Nathaniel Frey (CPO Ruddle)


the plot: Three decorated Navy pilots finagle a four day leave in San Francisco. They snag a posh suite at a hotel and Commander Crewson, a master of procurement, arranges to populate it with party people. Lieutenant Wallace tries to get the pilots to make speeches to rally the homefront at shipyard magnate Eddie Turnbill's plants, but they're tired of the war and just want to have fun. While Crewson begins falling in love with Turnbill's fiancée Gwinneth Livingston, he tries to ignore the distant call of war.



don't miss: how "Mr." Ruddle and Miss Kratzner communicate.




listen for: "Crewson, I love you very much." "That's the only way to love a person, otherwise it isn't worth all the trouble."



did you know: Suzy Parker was a famous model in the 1950s and the first one was to earn $100,000 per year.




extra bonus points: if you know which musical, made the same year, stars Suzy Parker in the big opening number.




did you also know: that although set in 1944, throughout the film you can see vehicles which are obvious early '50s models.

guess who?

She was known as "Winnipeg's Sweetheart".

By the time she was 18 her income was $250,000 a year.

An engineering firm named its so-called dream home in her honor.

Her first screen kiss was described in a headline story across the continent.

Her version of "One Fine Day" from Madame Butterfly, became a classic.

At the age of 27, she walked away from film making and never returned. Mario Lanza pleaded with her for years to make a film with him, but she never made another film.

She has granted only one interview since 1949, film historian David Shipman interviewed her in 1983.

what else were they in?

Marjorie Main achieved popularity as a comedienne especially well know for her role as Ma Kettle - for which she received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress (in The Egg and I).

You may recognize her as:

Ma Kettle in the ten Ma and Pa Kettle movies.
Mrs. Hittaway in The Long, Long Trailer
Esme in Summer Stock
Sonora Cassidy in The Harvey Girls
Katie in Meet Me in St. Louis
Mrs. Strable in Heaven Can Wait
Mrs. Dolley in Another Thin Man
Mrs. Martin in Stella Dallas

night at the museum

the year: 2006

the genre: comedy / action


the cast: Ben Stiller (Larry Daley); Carla Gugino (Rebecca); Dick Van Dyke (Cecil); Mickey Rooney (Gus); Bill Cobbs (Reginald); Ricky Gervais (Dr. McPhee); Robin Williams (Teddy Roosevelt)


the plot: When unemployed, divorced father Larry Daley is hired as night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, he soon discovers that an ancient curse brings all the exhibits to life after the sun sets. Suddenly, Larry finds himself face-to-face with a frisky T-Rex skeleton, tiny (competing) armies of Romans and cowboys, and a mischievous monkey who taunts him to the breaking point. But with the help of President Teddy Roosevelt, Larry may just figure out a way to control the chaos and become a hero in his son's eyes.


did you know: Larry's inability to remember Christopher Columbus' name is a wink and a nod to producer Chris Columbus.


listen for: Gus's tough talk:
"Listen up, Lunch Box!"
"Sleep tight, hotshot."
"Do you want the job or not, snack shack?"
"Sweet dreams, cupcake."
"Keep a lid on it, butterscotch."
"Do you want to dance, hot dog?"
"Are you crackin' wise? I oughta punch you in the nose, Hopscotch."


did you also know: while filming, Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson only had one day that they saw each other. Stiller talked to a toothpick for the Jedediah scenes, then three months later Wilson came in and filmed all of his parts.


extra bonus points: if you know what's important about the lady who played the woman in the employment office.


watch for: signs on the wall of the elevator and in the lobby, with titles paralleling what is happening to Larry at that point in the movie, including: "Spineless" and "Weathering the Storm".


also listen for: "Let's all laugh at me, the comedy night guard. No is the answer. Sarcasm back at you, with your humor box. I wasn't laughing. I was pretending to laugh, if that's what you want, some sort of battle of humor. Do you?"


don't miss: how Larry brings Atilla the Hun to tears.

in the details

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