If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969)

Womanizing Brit Charlie Cartwright is about to conduct Worldwind Tour #225, a nine country, eighteen day bus trip from London to Rome. He uses these tours in large part to catch up with his... See full summary »

Director:

Mel Stuart

Writers:

David Shaw (story), David Shaw (screenplay)

Stars:

Suzanne Pleshette, Ian McShane, Mildred Natwick

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Samantha Perkins
Ian McShane	...	Charlie Cartwright
Mildred Natwick	...	Jenny Grant
Murray Hamilton	...	Fred Ferguson
Sandy Baron	...	John Marino
Michael Constantine	...	Jack Harmon
Norman Fell	...	Harve Blakely
Peggy Cass	...	Edna Ferguson
Marty Ingels	...	Bert Greenfield
Pamela Britton	...	Freda
Reva Rose	...	Irma Blakely
Aubrey Morris	...	Harry Dix
Hilary Thompson	...	Shelly Ferguson (as Hilarie Thompson)
Luke Halpin	...	Bo
Mario Carotenuto	...	Giuseppe

Storyline

Womanizing Brit Charlie Cartwright is about to conduct Worldwind Tour #225, a nine country, eighteen day bus trip from London to Rome. He uses these tours in large part to catch up with his vast stable of casual girlfriends located in each of the visited cities. Within the group of disparate Americans on this tour, most who have never been to Europe, and the reason for them taking this trip are: parents who want to get their hormone driven teen-aged daughter away from her boyfriend despite the fact that the father doesn't want to leave the familiarity of home; a not-so woman's man who wants to prove to his friends that he had a beautiful woman in every country; an ethnic non-Italian speaking Italian who wants to catch up with the relatives he's never met; a WWII veteran who wants to re-experience the best times he's ever had; and a man who solely wants "free" souvenirs. But the one Charlie is most interested in is pretty Samantha Perkins, a self-confessed straight-laced woman who ...

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Plot Keywords:

europe | country name in title | lost wife | family relationships | bidet | 

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Taglines:

Europe sent us Dutch Elm Disease, German Measles and Russian Roulette. We sent them World-Wind Vacation tour #225. Now we're even.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1969 (USA)

Also Known As:

Amerikanac u Evropi

Filming Locations:

Switzerland

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wolper Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The tourists' return flight from Rome back to New York is TWA flight 841. On September 8, 1974, TWA flight 841 crashed into the Ionian Sea en route from Athens to Rome (full scheduled route: Tel Aviv - Athens - Rome - New York). The plane was destroyed by a bomb hidden in the cargo hold, which caused structural failure resulting in uncontrollable flight. This was the first known instance of a young Arab boarding an American plane in a suicide mission.

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Goofs

Right before the opening credits, a TWA aircraft lands and the airport PA system announces the arrival of TWA flight 700 yet one of the party is carrying a Pan Am flight bag.

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Quotes

Fred Ferguson: [angrily frustrated, to a clueless Italian cobbler] Tan! Y'understand tan?

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Crazy Credits

"The End" title card initially looks like just any other title card. However, the camera zooms out and reveals that it is a picture hanging on a wall. The character played by Aubrey Morris (the kleptomaniac) enters and removes it from the wall, trying conspicuously to hide it in his coat. He walks off and the screen fades out.

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Connections

Followed by If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium (1987)

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Soundtracks

"Montage"
By How Sweet It Is
Written by Jim Webb

User Reviews

European Travel before the EU and the euro,

While not a laugh-out-loud comedy, "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" is a humorous, affectionate take on group travel that will resonate with anyone who has been on a European bus tour. Ian McShane is the British guide for World Wind Tours Number 225, which will sweep through nine countries in eighteen days. McShane's American tourists include such comedic talents as Norman Fell, Marty Ingels, Reva Rose, Peggy Cass, Pamela Britton, and Sandy Baron. Although not well known for comedy, Murray Hamilton, Michael Constantine, and Mildred Natwick are spot-on funny as well and fill out the bus-load of stereotypes. Murray Hamilton stands out as the congenital cynic who was dragged away from his comfy couch for the trip. Hamilton's expressions and delivery capture the feelings of every male who has submitted to his wife's desire for a cultural experience in a foreign land.

The photography by Vilis Lapenieks captures the beauty of a Europe that flits by faster than the group can either absorb or appreciate. Strangely enough, only the Marty Ingels character, who is obsessed with photographing beautiful women to inspire jealousy among his male friends back home, appears to carry a camera. Predictably, a romantic liaison develops between tourist Suzanne Pleshette, who is as lovely as ever, and guide McShane. The Pleshette-McShane relationship, however, shines in contrast to the bloodless attraction between teens Hilary Thompson and Luke Halpin, who had better chemistry with dolphins. However, when the movie hits its target, it is engaging and oddly nostalgic, which the wistful title tune by Donovan underscores. For many, a quick glimpse of European wonders is a once in a lifetime experience whose memories must endure, and McShane emphasizes to Pleshette that tourists like her get an enormous return for their money.

Unfortunately, younger viewers may not react to the satire and sharp observations, because the film is firmly set in the 1960's. Veterans of World War II are increasingly rare and few make trips back to the battlefields. Hotels no longer monogram their towels for sticky fingered guests. Carnaby Street is no longer a mecca for mod fashion, and inoculations are unnecessary for European trips. However, anyone who has crossed the pond will recognize that Rome will never be a place to rent a car, American franchises abound in European cities, and yodeling is still an acquired taste. "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" is a time capsule for those who want to relive or catch a glimpse of European travel before the EU, the euro, and the proliferation of the English language homogenized the continent and stole some of the fun away. With a bit of nostalgia, some talented comedians, and director Mel Stuart's pacing, which is nearly as fast as the tour bus, the film is gentle fun and above average entertainment.