Bringing up Baby

Bringing up Baby (1938)

a film by Howard Hawks

Bringing up Baby is a comedy with a wild leopard and trained leopard who get loose at the same time. It is a movie with a dog that buries a valuable object and has the whole cast at his feet. It is the story of two completely different characters that find love amidst chaos. And it would be the ensemble of this and other comical routines if it wasn't for the brilliant and fresh execution that make this movie timeless and funny.

This is the story of David, played by Cary Grant, a paleontologist about to get married, completing the work of his life and trying to convince a millionaire to give a donation for his museum. And all these big plans go bananas when he meets the beautiful and scattered brained Susan Vance, played by Katherine Hepburn. The chaos that comes next and the preposterous situations in which they get involved are just the playground to see the great performances executed by this couple.

Katherine Hepburn is sensual, fashionable and very natural in her role. The freshness that she shows in every single gag only adds to her already huge status as a dramatic actress and her character is the motor that drives this movie. On the other hand there is Cary Grant in a role that could easily fall into ridiculous but that he keeps up providing him with a great touch of pride although the situation is completely against him. They both prove themselves as great professionals executing very physical gags with great ability.

This movie is worth seeing to remember the values that make good comedy. It is fresh and well acted and overall it is simple and very funny.