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

Tourists let loose a whirlwind of chaos while traveling through Europe.

What a delightful surprise! While not my usual 1940s film noir fare, I stumbled upon the zany 1969 comedy If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium while doing some movie research and simply couldn't resist revisiting this wonderfully wacky romp. I first watched it as a preteen and have such fond memories of its madcap antics, which evoke the same gleefully chaotic vibe as the classic It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. Having been to a couple of the film's iconic locations, I had so much fun rediscovering this thoroughly enjoyable cinematic gem. Let me give you a quick, fun synopsis of this hidden comedic treasure.

Ian McShane as tour guide Charlie Cartwright

Charlie, a charming scoundrel and self-proclaimed ladies' man, leads a group of wide-eyed American tourists on an 18-day whirlwind bus tour of Europe. His cunning plan? Wear the poor saps out during the day so he can have his evenings free to pursue his favorite pastime - hunting for his next conquest. But Charlie's smooth-talking ways may have finally met their match in Samantha Perkins, a steadfast Minneapolis career woman who is determined to get her money's worth on this trip. The only question is, will she end up booking a one-way ticket to the altar with her conservative boyfriend George, or will Charlie's roguish charms derail those plans?

Charlie sweet-talking tourist Samantha Perkins played by Suzanne Pleshette

What a wild ride for our hapless travelers! After a whirlwind day and night in London, they arrive in Amsterdam only to find the Fergusons in a tizzy, desperately trying to keep their perpetually amorous daughter Shelly away from a free-spirited hippie named Bo. Meanwhile, poor Harve Blakely is left searching in vain after his wife Irma accidentally boards the wrong bus and runs off with a group of Japanese tourists. And let's not forget the ever-eccentric Bert Greenfield, the snap-happy shutterbug who shamelessly snaps pics of any attractive lady who crosses his path, then claims they're his latest love interests. What a quirky, colorful crew!

The Ferguson’s daughter, Shelly with hippie Bo at an Amsterdam club. Donovan entertaining.

L to R: tourists Freda, Bert Greenfield toting all of his cameras, Shelly and her parents Edna & Fred Ferguson

As the group is herded through Brussels, and on to Switzerland, the ever-persistent Charlie tries and fails to add Samantha to his growing list of conquests - even when she gets sloshed on spiked fondue, she remains stubbornly unimpressed.

After touching down in the floating city of Venice, Italian American John Marino finds himself in a downright disastrous situation with his wacky Italian relatives. In a desperate attempt to avoid being forcibly betrothed to his cousin, the poor guy has no choice but to make a rather ungraceful exit - by leaping out of a bathroom window and taking an impromptu dip in the nearest canal. Talk about a less-than-ideal family reunion!

John Marino, played by Sandy Baron with his Italian uncle who wants him to marry his daughter, John’s cousin

As the tour winds down, Charlie finally makes headway with Samantha, only to have her boyfriend burst onto the scene. But Samantha, now certain that life with dull George would be a snooze, promptly sends him packing. That night, the long-lost Irma, decked out in kimono and sandals, crashes the farewell banquet and catches her husband shimmying with the entertainment. Charlie triumphantly seduces Samantha, but when he begs her to marry him at the airport the next day, she realizes he's a scatterbrain. Declaring herself a "square," Samantha bids him adieu and boards a plane bound for the States.

If you're in the mood for a delightfully quirky 60s romp, then If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium is a zany, retro treat worth seeking out. Though the film may be a bit dated, its offbeat charm and genuine humor still shine through, making it an enjoyable watch for those with a taste for the unconventional.

Enjoy!
…Jill

Notes:

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium is a 1969 comedy film made by Wolper Pictures and released by United Artists and made in DeLuxe Color.

Directed by: Mel Stuart
Cast

• Suzanne Pleshette as Samantha Perkins

• Ian McShane as Charlie Cartwright

• Mildred Natwick as Jenny Grant

• Murray Hamilton as Fred Ferguson

• Sandy Baron as John Marino

• Michael Constantine as Jack Harmon

• Norman Fell as Harve Blakely

• Peggy Cass as Edna Ferguson

• Marty Ingels as Bert Greenfield

• Pamela Britton as Freda

• Reva Rose as Irma Blakely

• Aubrey Morris as Harry Dix

• Hilarie Thompson as Shelly Ferguson

• Luke Halpin as Bo

• Mario Carotenuto as Giuseppe

• Patricia Routledge as Mrs. Featherstone

• Marina Berti as Gina

• Ermelinda De Felice as Italian Woman in Automobile Accident (as Linda De Felice)

• Paul Esser as German Sergeant

• Jenny White as Dot

Cameo appearances

• John Cassavetes (Bert's Poker buddy)

• Joan Collins (Woman on a London street Bert Greenfield films)

• Vittorio De Sica (Roman shoemaker)

• Donovan (singing "Lord of the Reedy River")

• Anita Ekberg (Roman burlesque act emcee)

• Ben Gazzara (Bert's Poker buddy)

• Robert Vaughn (Roman photographer)

The title, also used by a 1965 documentary on CBS television that filmed one such tour, was taken from a New Yorker cartoon by Leonard Dove. Published in the June 22, 1957, issue of the magazine, the cartoon depicts a young woman near a tour bus and a bell tower, frustratedly exclaiming "But if it's Tuesday, it has to be Siena," humorously illustrating the whirlwind nature of European tour schedules. This concept formed the premise of the film's plot.

Donovan sings "Lord of the Reedy River," which he had also written. He also wrote the film's title song, performed by J.P. Rags, a pseudonym for Douglas Cox.

Donavan; If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium 45 record

Locations where the film was shot include first: London, Great Britain; second: the Netherlands; third: Brussels and Bastogne, Belgium; fourth: Rhineland-Palatinate with the boat on the Rhine from Koblenz to Wiesbaden, Germany; fifth: Switzerland; and last: Venice and Rome, Italy. The film poster shows the cast on the normally pedestrianized Grote Markt square of Antwerp, Belgium, posing for a typical souvenir photo in front of the city hall, with their tour bus obstructing the view of the Brabo fountain which is normally a favorite photo-op with other tourists.

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium was released in theatres on April 24, 1969.

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The Forks Part

Belgian Waffles

dat is zo lekker (Dutch for that’s so good)

What better way to complement this wacky film than with a batch of scrumptious Belgian Waffles? This recipe is a breeze to whip up, and the end result is downright delectable!

What You Need:

• 2 cups flour

• 4 teaspoons baking powder

• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt

• ¹⁄₄ cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• ¹⁄₂ cup vegetable oil

• 2 cups milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

What To Do:

• Oil the waffle maker.

• Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

• In separate bowl, separate egg whites and beat until stiff peaks form.

• In a separate bowl, mix together the egg yolks, milk, oil , and vanilla, stir slightly.

• Add to dry ingredients and mix well.

• Fold in egg whites.

• Cook in waffle iron on medium-high heat for around 5-10 minutes.

Whip up a batch of 6 fluffy waffles with this easy recipe. Top them off with your personal favorites - maybe a dollop of whipped cream, some juicy strawberries or blueberries, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or whatever delicious toppings you're craving. Then grab a fork and get ready to dive in and savor every bite while enjoying If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium!