Well, if you look at his office you can tell. Also look at Colette’s vespa, it doens’t look too 60’s does it?
I actually do not know much about how things were in the old days, so maybe (But I do know about the typewriter thing)
Well maybe the movie is set in the 80’s at the earliest but most likely now. Either way, the movie is timeless. I did find some more evidence of it’s time frame, Skinner offers '61 Chateau Latour, which I’m guessing has aged a lot, since Skinner says that if Linguini didn’t drink it he’d be an "idiot of elephantine proportions, implying that the wine is aged.
This is getting way off-topic, guys. I’m starting a new thread, because I’ve got a really interesting theory. 
According to the awesome ME…
Colette’s grandfather died of liver cancer too early, which obviously must have traumatized poor Colette when she was young. Death of any of her family members could be one of the factors that made her hot tempered. (Not like this had anything to do with the story though)
Alfredo came from and grew up in Italy. Every school (including college) he went to, he was taller than everyone else. He was ALWAYS bullied by these shorter people for being so tall. (His official height, however, is 6’ 3")
Emile is a cryophobe. (phobic of the cold)
When Remy was 5 (in human years), his mom was kidnapped by French NIMH scientists, never to be seen again. You should understand what I mean if you have read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH or seen The Secret of NIMH.
How are my back stories?
I love this! Especially as Italy (like a lot of Mediterranean basin countries) has a much shorter population, on average, than more northern countries; I think the avg. height in Italy is around 5’5" or so. It makes perfect sense! Great work, RMSH!
…Alfredo went to college? 
thinks furiously
Perhaps vocational school…
How do you know he didn’t? I never said that I have proof that he did, I just said that because it’s my habit of thinking that every character has/will have a master’s degree.
I’m loving your post already! XD
What does that have to do with…oh, uh, never mind. XD 
(just kidding lol)
I’m not against this, it’s a great idea, but how did Alfredo get to France?
There’s an NIMH in France? I learned something new, thanks RMSH! 
Awesome.
An airplane! You didn’t expect him to SWIM, or WALK all the way there did you?
XDDD
I should’ve said why did he go to France?
maybe he just thought france was cool, like i do
Why did he go to France??? Because it was his mother’s dying wish probably. She gave him that lavender letter to give to Skinner because it might ensure Linguini a job. Skinner and the job both happen to be in France. Therefore, he had to travel to France. Paris, to be exact. That much is true from canon…
And how did he get there? Someone mentioned flying, but just for the sake of argument, let’s say he took a series of trains. France and Italy are neighbors, after all.
Sheila
did he have the money to get on planes or trains?
maybe he walked all the way, hitchhiking sometimes and braving many dangers. Maybe that’s what made him so easy to surprise and stuff…
Just a thought.