Bringing Up Baby

BRINGING UP BABY (Black and white, 1938)

Director:
Howard Hawks

Cast:
Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charles Ruggles, Walter Catlett, Barry Fitzgerald, May Robson, Fritz Feld, George Irving and Virginia Walker

Ages:
4 and up

Plot:
David Huxley (Grant) is a zoologist who has been working on a dinosaur skeleton with his fiancée, Alice Swallow (Walker) at a museum. He needs one last bone, the intercostal clavicle to complete the skeleton.  He goes to Mr Peabody (Irving) at a golf course. Peabody is the lawyer of Mrs Charlton Elizabeth Ransom (Robson) who has a million dollars that David wants for his museum. There, he meets the reckless and dizzy Susan Vance (Hepburn), who owns a leopard called Baby. Susan falls in love with David.  

From left: David Huxley (Grant) and Susan Vance (Hepburn) in a comical moment in the movie, with Mrs Elizabeth Charlton Ransom (Robson) looking on.

Why it’s good:
Because it is the perfect screwball introduction. I screened it just last night with several scenes where you cannot stop laughing no matter how hard you try.

It is the perfect screwball comedy to those old to the genre, too, and preferably the best. Baby the leopard of the title is quite an exotic pet from Susan’s brother Mark, and quite well tamed.

There is a second reason for its friendliness to kids. It is anarchy of exotic paradise of dogs and two leopards. The romance in it is one dimensional – boy meets girl who falls for him. 

Trivia:
It was a scandalous flop during its time and Hawks was cancelled off for his next RKO production.

Parent’s guide:
Not much, really. The leopard might be a little scary.

If you like this…:
"Sylvia Scarlett" (1935), "Holiday" (1938) and "The Philadelphia Story" (1940).         

The African Queen

THE AFRICAN QUEEN (COLOUR, 1951)

Director:
John Huston

Cast:
Humphrey Bogart, Katherine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull and Theodore Bikel

Ages:
8 and up

Plot:
Charles Allnut (Bogart) is a foul-smelling mail boat captain in WWI Africa. He soon comes to pity Rose Sayer (Hepburn), a missionary and brother of Rev. Samuel (Morley). He takes her aboard his ship and the two plots a plan to blow up German Ship Louisa. The two cross the many rivers till they reach the place they need to go.

Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen.

Why it’s good:
There’s nothing much to it really. The war is the backdrop. The adventure is an unquestionable highlight of the film.

The romance is quite touching in its own way – dislike, forgiveness and then the swell thing. Quite a corny romance, unfortunately, with Bogart playing his Oscar-winning role as Charles the mail boat captain.

The story is quite well plotted, and as the ship’s captain is going to execute Charles and Rose, Charles says,” May you perform a wedding? It would mean a lot to this lady.”

The wedding goes quite well, too and the ship blows up later. You have to see the film to understand the ending. As they fall into the water, they look at each other as if they were married for real. They do not regret it either.

Parent’s guide:
Charles drinks a little too much and he drinks it in single gulps. The bottles are then emptied by Rose who says it is bad for his health. The two kiss many times in the film.

Trivia:
Shot on location in Africa and Turkey.

If you like this…:
More adventures and war in the background has “The Four Feathers” (1939) and "Gunga Din" (1939).  

Adam's Rib

ADAM’S RIB (BLACK & WHITE, 1949)

Director:

George Cukor

Cast:

Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday, Tom Ewell, Jean Hagen and David Wayne

Ages:

7 and up

Plot:

Adam (Tracy) is the wife of fellow lawyer Amanda (Hepburn). Adam is ordered to prosecute a case in which a man (Ewell) married to a woman named Doris (Holliday) who attempts to murder him after he has an affair with a client (Hagen). Amanda decides to defend Doris which sours her relationship with Adam.

Why it’s good:

This film actually tells us about the Tracy-Hepburn relationship, their admiration towards each other and the admiration the public had for them then.

And so everyone must watch at least one of these lovers' great films. THIS is the one to see. It’s better than the rest of their other comedies like 1952’s "Pat and Mike", which is actually an inspirational sports film. It is also neat and light, not like their heavy "Keeper of the Flame" (1942).

I, personally, really loved it. David Wayne is at a peak while singing that marvelous number "Farewell  Amanda". The courtroom backdrops are simply bizarre with all the courtroom fanatics.

From Right: Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday and Spencer Tracy in one of the film’s court room scenes.

Parent’s guide:

There is a scene where they are massaging each other when Tracy and Hepburn break up in a fight involving hitting and punching. In addition, the first few scenes may be a little suspenseful and scary.

Trivia:

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn were impressed with the performance of Judy Holliday. Therefore, they casted her for "Born Yesterday" (1950). She took home an Oscar for that film.  

If you like this…:

For more Tracy-Hepburn movies, the best bet is 1942’s "Woman of the Year", a comedy involving magazines and newspapers. "Pat and Mike" (1952), as I have stated, is the sports-comedy which is for children gifted in sports or athletics. "Desk Set" (1957) is a clumsy computerization film. "Keeper of the Flame" (1942) is too turgid and too melancholy. "State of the Union" (1948) is a talky White Huse comedy while "Without Love" (1945) is a suspense film. "Guess Who’s coming to Dinner" (1967) is a film of talk on racism and injustice, which won Hepburn an Oscar as the mother of a woman who marries Sidney Poiter.