CANDY (1968)

Directed by: Christian Marquand  Written by: Buck Henry  Based on the Novel Written by: Terry Southern & Mason Offenberg  Cinematography: Giuseppe Rotunno  Editor: Giancarlo Cappelli 

Cast: Ewa Aulin, John Astin, James Coburn, Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, John Huston, Walter Matthau, Sugar Ray Robinson, Charles Aznavour, Ringo Starr, Anita Pallenberg, Elsa Martinelli, Lea Pedoucni, Judith Malina 

Governed by a mysterious and utterly delicious fate, the innocent high-school student, Candy, summons up the courage to embark on a life-changing journey of enlightenment, eager to discover the elusive meaning of life in the four corners of the world. Little by little, the open-minded girl unlocks the secrets of the world, as a seemingly endless parade of unusual characters--including an eccentric drunkard poet; a Mexican gardener; a chaste U.S. Army general; an overzealous surgeon from hell; a filmmaker, and a smug, all-knowing wandering guru--are more than willing to lend a hand. Will Candy's scandalous journey of sexual awakening bear fruit? Is there a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

DEFENDING YOUR LIFE (1991)

Written & Directed By: Albert Brooks 
Cinematography By: Allen Daviau 
Editor: David Finfer 


Cast: Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, Lee Grant, Buck Henry, James Eckhouse, Susan Walters, Mary Pat Gleason, Ethan Embry, 


Yuppie Daniel Miller is killed in a car accident and goes to Judgment City, a waiting room for the afterlife. During the day, he must prove in a courtroom-style process that he successfully overcame his fears (a hard task, given the pitiful life we are shown); at night, he falls in love with Julia, the only other young person in town. Nights are a time of hedonistic pleasure, since you can (for instance) eat all you want without getting fat.