The Last of Sheila and the Spice of Life

On Friday nights, I sometimes go to the Friday Film Forum "...a volunteer program dedicated to the art and history of motion pictures." They show classic movies released prior to 1976. Because of them I have seen two Charlie Chaplin movies, a great Tony Curtis movie (The Sweet Smell of Success), Robert Mitchum in Farewell, My Lovely, Steve McQueen in The Cincinnati Kid, and White Christmas on the big screen! (There are others but I can't think of them right now.) As you can see, I do gravitate to the later movies. So when I heard that they were going to show The Last of Sheila from 1973, I was very excited. (Remember, I am in to all things 70's right now!)

Well, besides this movie having lots of twists and turns in the plot, I really loved it because it was totally 70's all the way. Maybe even more than The Bob Newhart Show, my current guilty pleasure.

Within the first 10 minutes of the movie, the following things happened:

1) The mushroom lamp that is on Roger Sterling's desk in Mad Men was on a Richard Benjamin's desk.

2) Dyan Cannon and Raquel Welch talked about The Sleeping Beauty Diet which is featured in the book Valley of the Dolls. (It's not talked about in the movie - read the books folks, it's a classic!!)

3) Dyan Cannon drinks a TAB! (Look for the iconic can at the very bottom of the picture, towards the middle.)

                         TAB

So in conclusion, I would recommend seeing this little gem of a movie, not only for Dyan Cannon's crazy, hippy 70's outfits, but for a great story that will have you second guessing "who did it" and wondering how James Coburn kept his teeth so white!

Speaking of all things 70's, I've decided to start collecting pieces of Corning Ware with the popular 70's pattern "Spice of Life." I'm sure you've all seen it as it was very popular all the way through the mid-80's. After Thanksgiving, I am going to start selling off my Pfaltzgraff and replacing it with vintage Pyrex (I will have another post about this soon) and this cute mushroom and vegetable pattern. I should end up ahead monetarily becasue my Pfaltzgraff pattern is discontinued and sells pretty well on eBay. As for the Spice of Life, I intend on only getting it at yard sales and thrift stores. I got two perfect pieces today for under $5.

I have a total of four pieces, the first piece which was given to me by my BFF, Karen! So far, all the pieces I own I have French phrases on them but it appears that many were made without any words on them as well. I do adore the French phrases.

Now you all know what you can get me for Christmas!! 

Le Romarin (Rosemary) with lid is a 10x10x2. It doesn't list the quart size so I filled it with water and it took 10 quarts to fill it. Maybe this size isn't ever measured in quarts??
La Marjolaine (Marjoram) was the gift from Karen. It is a 2 quart.

Le Persil (Parsley) is a 6 1/2 inch pan. 

Le Sauge (Sage) is a 2 1/2 cup saucepan with a cute pouring spout. I am thinking about using this for my gravy at Thanksgiving since I don't have a gravy boat. What do you think?

I believe that all of these pieces originally came with lids. I am hoping that all glass Corning Ware lids (made by Pyrex) are interchangeable so that I will be able to get some to fit, eventually. Also, all four of these pieces say that they can be used on the range, oven and microwave. How cool is that?