A History of Movies?


Not only are there numerous references to Hepburn's films but the film (and especially the final party seems to be a tribute to the history of movies up until the time it was made.

I spied Cleopatra, Chaplin, The 3 Marx Brothers and Jekyll and Hyde amongst the other historical costumes.

There are also numerous verbal and visual references to Casablanca, Dracula and Frankenstein throughout, and even a speeded-up Keystone Cops gag...

Yes, it drags heavily places. Every true screenwriter knows that every scene of a movie must have conflict, and this...didn't, so if it's another joke, it's on the audience. But as a writer I loved the in-jokes, the stupid stuff and the many (pre-)post-modern references. And Tony Curtis was a hoot throughout! I also have to work out where to get the Sinatra song for 'the Girl who Stole the Eiffel Tower' if there is a full one.

Fave gag - in the caves where Dracula's lab had the tabasco, vodka and Worcestershire sauce needed for Holden's Bloody Mary.

So what other non-Audrey film references have I missed?

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So what other non-Audrey film references have I missed?


I might be overthinking this, but I was also reminded of the following:

To catch a thief - the masquarade ball sequence

Noel Coward's character masquarading as Emperor Nero reminded me of Peter Ustinov (a method actor!) in Quo Vadis....the effiminate/gay way he played that character. Observe how NC keeps doing the same, repeatedly saying to Holden, "You are so beautiful", pecking him on the cheek et al.


...it's alright, Ma, if I can't please him

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