tammy and the doctor

the year: 1963

the genre: comedy


the cast: Sandra Dee (Tammy); Peter Fonda (Dr. Mark Cheswick); Beulah Bondi (Annie Call); Reginald Owen (Jason Tripp); Alice Pearce (Millie Baxter)


the plot: When Mrs. Call's heart condition acts up, Tammy tags along in the trip to Los Angeles for the surgery. Since there are no guest quarters in the hospital, Tammy gets a job in the hospital as a nurse's assistant, and catches the attention of handsome young resident Dr. Cheswick.


count: how many times Tammy ends up back with custodial duties.



don't miss: Reginald Owen as Mr. Tripp - you may recognize him as Admiral Boom from Mary Poppins.



extra bonus points: if you know why smarmy Dr. Hassler (below, left) looks familiar.



did you know: when Tammy mixes up ID bracelets on the babies in the nursery, she identifies one of them as "Bernard Schwartz", the real name of Tony Curtis, then one of Universal's biggest stars.

tammy tell me true

the year: 1961

the genre: comedy


the cast: Sandra Dee (Tammy); John Gavin (Tom Freeman); Beulah Bondi (Mrs. Annie Call)


the plot: Heartbroken because Pete (who's away at college) fails to answer her letters, Tammy decides to go to college herself. After moving the Ellen B. downriver to Seminola College, she gains admission as a special student and, to pay her expenses, takes a job as companion to Mrs. Call, a wealthy eccentric.



don't miss: Stefanie Powers' screen debut.

come september

the year: 1961

the genre: comedy


the cast: Rock Hudson (Robert L. Talbot); Gina Lollobrigida (Lisa Helena Fellini); Sandra Dee (Sandy Stevens); Bobby Darin (Tony)


the plot: Wealthy, industrialist playboy Robert Talbot arrives early for his annual vacation at his luxurious Italian villa to find three problems lying in wait for him. First, his long-time girlfriend Lisa Fellini has given up waiting for him to pop the question and has decided to marry another man. Second, the major domo of his villa has turned the estate into a posh hotel to make some easy money while the boss isn't around. And finally, the current guests of the "hotel" are a group of young American girls trying to "fend off" a gang of American boys, led by Tony, who are 'laying siege' at the outer walls of the villa. Talbot, to his own surprise, finds himself becoming an overprotective chaperone.


don't miss: "Multiplication" as sung by Bobby Darrin.


listen for: "Mr Clavell!" "Sir?" "You are to go with them and you are not to let those girls out of your sight." "Sir, I can't ride a motor scooter." "Then learn." "I have no sense of balance. I was the only child that ever had to be strapped to his tricycle."


did you know: Bobby Darrin and Sandra Dee met during the filming of this movie. They were married not long after the film wrapped.


also listen for: "Where do you live?" "[broken English] Saus-a-lito." "And where is that near?" "San Fran-sis-co." "I am very stu-pid. But I'm loads of fun."



You can watch the movie in parts, starting here.

that funny feeling

the year: 1965

the genre: comedy


the cast: Sandra Dee (Joan Howell); Bobby Darin (Tom Milford); Donald O’Connor (Harvey Granson); Nita Talbot (Audrey); Larry Storch (Luther); Leo G. Carroll (Mr. O’Shea, the pawnbroker)


the plot: Joan Howell, a pretty maid-for-hire, meets and begins dating wealthy New York City businessman Tom Milford. Embarrassed about taking him back to the tiny apartment she shares with her roommate Audrey, Joan takes Tom to a fancy apartment that she cleans on a daily basis not knowing that it's his place. Tom plays along with the charade despite not knowing who Joan really is, especially at the insistence of his friend Harvey – who is hiding his priceless paintings at Tom’s house so his wife’s divorce lawyers won’t include them in the alimony equation.


count: how many wing-ding parties are held in Mr. Milford’s apartment.


don’t miss: the supporting characters – Audrey, Audrey’s boyfriend Luther, and Mr. O’Shea.


check out: the bartenders. Slightly reminiscent of I’d Rather Be Rich.


listen for: “This is the girl who took my place.” “Well, what's she doing in my place?” “She won't let me in my place so I had to call your place my place.”


extra bonus points: if you can name the other two movies in which Darin and Dee co-starred.

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.

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.