Foods for thought

Speaking of movie drinking, I have two words: seltzer bottle. The bottle of carbonated water which can be squirted into an alcohol drink by means of a nozzle affixed to the top of the bottle. Clarabelle the Clown had one but only used it to run people out of Doodyville by drenching them with the water. I have never, in all my days, actually seen on in action on a highball (and there is another archaic word form the ‘30s and ‘40s – “highball”).

Also, I have never been to a party where wait staff wanders among the guests carrying trays of drinks to be plucked off and consumed for free. I think the last time I saw that in a movie was Kubrick’s “Eyes Wide Shut.”

Much has been made of the old cliché of people never eating an ordered meal at a restaurant. Something always happens to cause the movie character to jump up, throw a few dollars on the table and run out. I always liked the way David Hemmings ordered his lunch before running out in “Blow Up.” As a waitress passes his table carrying a large tray of plates, he stops her, looks over the dishes, points to one, then points to himself. She nods and continues on.