Watch Bringing Up Baby
- Approved
- 1938
- 1 hr 42 min
-
7.8 (66,896)
Bringing Up Baby is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks and starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Charles Ruggles. It tells the story of a quirky young woman named Susan Vance, played by Hepburn, who is a wealthy heiress with a penchant for causing trouble. She meets David Huxley, a stuffy, absent-minded paleontologist, played by Grant, and becomes determined to win his affections.
The film begins with David Huxley working on the final bone of a dinosaur skeleton, which he hopes will convince a wealthy donor to fund his museum. He meets Susan Vance on a golf course, where she causes chaos by stealing his ball, ripping his pants, and generally behaving in a wild and unconventional manner. Susan is immediately smitten with David, but he is more interested in finishing his work than pursuing a relationship.
However, Susan is determined to win David's heart, and she sets about doing so with her usual exuberance. She invites him to her aunt's country house, where she introduces him to her pet leopard, Baby. Chaos quickly ensues as Baby escapes and David and Susan go on a madcap search to find her before the aunt discovers her pet missing.
The rest of the film follows Susan and David as they go on a series of hilarious misadventures, getting into fights, accidentally setting buildings on fire, and causing general mayhem wherever they go. Along the way, they are aided by a cast of colorful supporting characters, including Susan's long-suffering fiancé (played by Ruggles) and a hapless constable.
As the film progresses, David begins to thaw towards Susan and find himself falling in love with her zany personality. However, their unlikely romance is constantly interrupted by the chaos surrounding them. Eventually, they find themselves in jail, and it is only through Susan's ingenuity that they are able to escape and finally admit their feelings for one another.
Bringing Up Baby is considered one of the greatest screwball comedies ever made, thanks in large part to the talented performances of Hepburn and Grant. Hepburn's portrayal of Susan is a masterclass in physical comedy, as she flits around the screen in a whirlwind of energy and chaos. Grant, comparatively, plays the perfect straight man, reacting to the madness around him with bewildered exasperation.
The film is also notable for its snappy dialogue and witty one-liners. Much of the humor comes from the clash between Susan's carefree approach to life and David's more buttoned-up personality. The contrast between the two characters provides a rich vein of comedy that runs throughout the film.
At its heart, Bringing Up Baby is a classic romantic comedy with all the hallmarks of the genre: two mismatched characters who fall in love against all odds, a series of hilarious mishaps that keep them apart, and a climactic finale where all is resolved. However, the film's sheer energy and inventiveness set it apart from others in the genre.
Overall, Bringing Up Baby is a rollicking good time, filled with laughs, surprises, and unforgettable performances. For fans of classic Hollywood comedies or anyone who needs a good laugh, it is a must-see.
Bringing Up Baby is a 1938 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 91.