Synopsis
Bringing Up Baby (1938), directed by Howard Hawks, is a classic screwball comedy following uptight paleontologist David Huxley, who becomes hilariously entangled with the free-spirited and chaotic Susan Vance just before his wedding. Their misadventures escalate when Susan's pet leopard, Baby, escapes, leading to a series of madcap situations. Though initially a box office failure, the film is now celebrated as one of Hollywood's greatest comedies.
Why Watch It
Cary Grant's frazzled paleontologist collides with Katharine Hepburn's whirlwind heiress in Hawks' screwball masterpiece—a machine-gun-paced avalanche of slapstick, innuendo, and perfectly timed chaos that practically invented the romantic comedy template. The chemistry crackles, the leopard steals scenes, and the plot barrels forward with such breakneck energy that you'll struggle to catch your breath between laughs.
Did You Know?
- Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn starred together for the first time.
- The film was a box office flop upon its release.
- Baby was a real, trained leopard named Nissa.
- It is considered the screwball comedy genre's greatest example.
- Katharine Hepburn had never done comedy before this film.
Iconic Quotes
- I just went gay all of a sudden!
- You've just told me this is the best day of your life.
- Now it isn't that I don't like you, because, after all, in moments of quiet, I'm strangely drawn toward you.
- He's three years old, gentle as a kitten, and likes dogs. I wonder if Mark means he's a dog who likes dogs.
- The love impulse in man very frequently reveals itself in terms of conflict.
