MovieChat Forums > Bringing Up Baby (1938) Discussion > 'What's Up, Doc?' ripped it off

'What's Up, Doc?' ripped it off

posted 11 years ago by esskayess
9 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this for the first time after meaning to for a long time. I had a great time and it certainly deserves its designation as a classic comedy, but it sure brought “What’s Up, Doc?” (which I saw as a child when it came out) to mind: Frumpy scientist with fiancée from hell who’s angling for a huge grant has his life turned upside down by a nutty but lovable woman, resulting in a madcap time for all that ends sweetly. I always heard that “Doc” was meant as a salute to classic comedies of the past, but its writers clearly did more than just “salute” one of them.

[–] ppllkk 11 years ago

esskayess wrote:

but its writers clearly did more than just “salute” one of them.

They certainly did. It was quite explicit and quite intentional.The director, Peter Bogdanovich, has talked about the relationship and that it was modeled on one of his favorite movies, Bringing Up Baby.David-CG's very useful Scripts for Firefox: http://userscripts.org/users/67626

[–] esskayess 11 years ago

Yes, I've learned that since then, but thanks for the response.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Not to belabour the point too much, but I was around when WUD was released and there was never any subterfuge on Peter Bogdanovich's part. It was made as both a tribute to BUB and the "screwball" comedies of the 30's and 40's. I've always found both films extremely funny.

[–] jcosyn-1 9 years ago

Find a dictionary.

Look up the word "homage".

Feel better now?

[–] Prismark10 8 years ago

Bogdanovich did not rip the film off, he was inspired by it.

It's that man again!!

[–] murph24 8 years ago

Bogdanovich did not rip the film off, he was inspired by it.

Very true; he was inspired by the film's concept of stuffy uptight guy meets fast-talking dame, and he ran with it.

There's only one scene from "Bringing Up Baby" that was reproduced in "What's Up Doc?" and that's the moment where Judy grabs the back of Howard's jacket and tears it (we see Susan doing that to David at the restaurant).

[–] MyCocaine (48) 8 years ago

"What's Up Doc?" is much better film than Bringing Up Baby.

[–] Garyandfilm (548) 9 months ago

Uh, "What's up Doc?" can't hold a candle to "Bringing Up Baby."

You can sniff some more cocaine now.

[–] [email protected] (6065) 9 months ago

"Bringing Up Baby" is a classic. One of my all time favorite screwball comedies from that era.

The cast is just wonderful. The only slight "glitch" in the film is the fact that Susan's brother Mark is supposed to be in South America which is where he got the leopard to send her. But there are no leopards in South America! It would have been more factual if he sent her a jaguar. But maybe jaguars are too hard to train.

One time I saw this movie on a local station that showed afternoon movies and had a regular host. He gave a lot of interesting trivia about the film. For instance, Kate Hepburn was advised by the trainer to not wear perfume (it bothered the leopard). And she was told not to wear shoes with slippery soles so she wouldn't accidently slip or move forward towards the leopard. That also bothered him.

I'd never want to "bother" a leopard or antagonize it in any way.