IF IT'S TUESDAY, THIS MUST BE BELGIUM

US, 1969, 105 minutes, Colour.
Suzanne Pleshette, Ian Mc Shane, Mildred Natwick, Murray Hamilton, Sandy Baron, Michael Constantine, Norman Fell, Peggy Cass, Pamela Britton, Aubrey Morris.
Directed by Mel Stuart.

If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium is a humorous look at the misadventures of a group of tourists on the loose in Europe. While there are postcard pictures of main European countries (eighteen in all), there are also some humorous takes on the different countries.

Suzanne Pleshette is a very pleasant star, falling for British tourist Ian Mc Shane. Mildred Natwick as an absentminded lady. Norman Fell and Peggy Cass are a couple who find themselves separated.

The jokes, of course, are on all the things that could go wrong on an organised tour in Europe. However, it is an amusing caper – directed by Mel Stuart who was to direct Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory two years later.

There was a television sequel in 1987, If It’s Tuesday, This Still Must Be Belgium.

1. A successful comedy? How enjoyable?

2. The significance and tone of the title, its cartoon captions, indication of the type of comedy, satire, tourism, Americans in Europe? Expectations of this type of comedy? Their fulfilment?

3. How well did the film use the devices of the travel? Presentation of the sights, the enjoyment, the hazards in European countries, American naivety? The attractiveness of the guest stars in the various countries?

4. The presentation of the tourists: how stereotypical were they, were any of them well developed as characters? The use of the cliches of travel, jokes and foibles? How were these best illustrated? The jokes on men in their travels, on women, on old and young? How did the film present the typical cliche on the American tourist? How much is this justified?

5. How well did the film show the various places and their style? The satire, eg on Italy?

6. How good was Charlie as the hero of the film? His style and type? The tour guide and his patter with the people? How much of a con man was he? Samantha seeing through him?

7. How attractive was Samantha as a heroine? Her resourcefulness, resistance of Charlie, succumbing, then seeing him realistically?

8. How happy a film was this? The characteristics and conventions of the comedy?