Many, many years ago, a high school friend and I saw The Quiet Man twice when it debuted in one of the downtown movie theatres in Chicago. The second time we saw it, our sole mission was to count the number of cigarettes Sean Thornton (John Wayne) lit in the course of the movie. We were completely taken with the total coolness of smoking, especially watching someone who did it so well, particularly after striking that match on the sole of his shoe. I don’t recall the numbers we came up with, but I seem to remember we didn’t agree on the total. Last night I watched Casablanca for the jillionth time and it put me in mind of that cigarette count. Perhaps the next time I watch Casablanca I could count the number of drinks consumed, or at least sipped, by Rick, Ilsa and Victor Lazlo. I think I can count that high….
