Stuart Elliott: July Madness -- Shop ‘til Who Drops?

Among my favorite movies about advertising is the 1940 screwball comedy "Christmas in July," which mocks one of Madison Avenue's most popular consumer come-ons, the slogan-writing contest. The plot is centered on an ambitious young clerk whose co-workers trick him into believing he's won a $25,000 prize, back in the day when that was real money.