Seems like these days everyone could use a good stiff drink and a good movie! I am back with another round of fancy drinks and the movies that featured them. The first few are from movies I saw in 2016 and the last one is the first of 2017! This time out there’s some familiar beverages making the rounds and I have a couple of movies that had a Champagne Cocktail! Now, grab some old fashioned glasses, ice and shakers and let’s get started! Cheers!
THE LEECH WOMAN (1960) – Whisky & Vodka over ice
What does Dr. Paul Talbot, an endocrinologist, do when he’s in a bad marriage? Well he takes his aging alcoholic wife with him on a trip to Africa to be his test subject on a possible fountain of youth! When wife, June Talbot, realizes she’s just another experiment she gets mad! The bright side is she gets back her youth and “ditches” her hubby! The dark side is just what it takes to stay young! She needs the pineal glands of the recently deceased! (Oh that magic Pineal Gland! What wonders you hold!)
Before June finds her youth she was turning to the bottle for her happiness, just some pure straight Whisky! Here’s to you whisky, guardian of all frustrated wives.”
Whisky! Did you say Whisky?
“Drinking and my feelings for you are both bad for me. I know that.”
“Just one more to numb me.”
Whisky – Get yourself a clean glass, pour in an ounce, maybe two of Whisky and then sip or gulp, depending on mood.
Later in her youthful state June finds a young man to drink Vodka over ice, uh oh there’s no ice, with!
Say fella, be my bartender!
I like you and I like vodka!
Vodka over ice – Get a glass, a few cubes of ice (optional) and pour in two ounces of Vodka. Cheers you minx!
SATAN MET A LADY (1936) – Whisky and Soda & Sherry
This movie is the second adaptation of THE MALTESE FALCON, and it stars Bette Davis and Warren William. Warren is detective Ted Shane who has been wrangled into finding an old jeweled horn! This is a fun take on the story before old Bogie took the reigns.
After Shane’s apartment has been turned upside down the man who did it came back for some witty banter and a libation. Shane’s drink of choice is the Whisky and Soda while the gentleman prefers a nice Sherry!
Let’s be friends! It’s only business! Come on!
Whisky and Soda – 1 part Scotch and 2 parts soda. Take a chilled glass filled with ice and pour in 1/2 oz of whisky and 1 oz of soda water. (Shane didn’t use ice, his apartment and liquor cabinet was a mess!)
Sherry – a Spanish wine made of white grapes. It should be served in a Sherry glass, either as an Aperitif or after dinner dessert wine. Shane’s enemy really does enjoy a good Sherry after he messes a place up.
ALL FALL DOWN (1962) – Champagne Cocktail
The Willart family is a bit unusual. Clinton Willart (played by Brandon De Wilde, to best known to me as the little kid in Shane!) is the youngest of two boys in the household. He thinks his older brother Berry-Berry (Warren Betty) is the best guy around! Berry-Berry hasn’t been home in a while and Clinton gets him to make a big return to please his quirky parents Annabell and Ralph (Angela Lansbury and Karl Mulden). Annabell loves her eldest and is so devoted to him, which is one reason Berry-Berry ran away. To make the web more tangled Echo (Eva Marie Saint) a family friend come around for a visit!
LURED (1947) – Champagne Cocktail
London is plagued with a serial killer who has been finding his victims through personal columns. Lucille Ball is Sandy Carpenter who’s friend was a recent victim. Sandy is recruited by the police to help them find the killer by replying to different personal ads. Alain Napier is one of the detectives! George Sanders is Robert Fleming the dashing debonaire gentleman and Boris Karloff has a fun cameo!
Can I trust you? Are you a murderous man?
Champagne Cocktail – The simplest version of this cocktail includes Champagne, Angostura bitters, a sugar cube, and garnish of an orange or lemon slice in a champagne flute.
Take the sugar cube and add a 2 to 3 dashes of bitters and drop it into the champagne flute. Slowly pour in your champagne of choice and garnish with a citrus slice.
RUTHLESS (1948) –
Old Fashioned &
Martini
My first film discovery of 2017!
RUTHLESS stars Zachary Scott as Horace Woodruff Vendig, who is one of the richest men out there!
Horace throws a big party as a peace offering that includes a major Peace donation to his country (Tax breaks!) and he hopes to make amends with acquaintances from his past. Vic (Louis Hayward) who has known Horace since they were kids is atop the list, but Vic still holds quite a grudge! When Vic shows up with Mallory (Diana Lynn) his gal pal of the last 5 years Horace is struck by the fact that Mallory looks just like Martha; his one true love. This begins the flashbacks to reveal Horace’s true nature of ruthlessness. (Look for a fun cameo from Raymond Burr!)
As Horace’s past pals gather at the party they drink to ease the pain; “You came for a drink and found a memory.”
Thanks to RUTHLESS I get to finally add Old Fashioned to my list!
Old Fashioned – The Old Fashion glass was named after this drink! So grab the glass, a sugar cube or 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, Angostura bitters, club soda (or water), bourbon (or rye) and ice cubes.
Put the sugar in the glass and add 3 dashes of bitters with a splash of club soda. Crush up/dissolve the sugar. Swirl it around to line the glass. Add a big cube of ice and pour in 2 oz of bourbon (or rye).
Martini – It is one part Dry Vermouth and six parts Gin: Pour 1/2 oz of Dry Vermouth and 3 oz of Gin, into a mixing glass filled with ice cubes. Stir well and then strain it into a chilled martini glass, now you can garnish with an olive or some oil from a lemon peel.
Good Movies! Good Drinks! Cheers! Make a drink, watch a movie or watch a movie with some nice drinks. I’m going to be on the look out for more fancy beverages! I really need a day to make these beverage and get a bit tipsy! Just stay safe no matter what, and DON’T drink and drive!!! EVER!
Just watch movies and be happy! Yup!
