The Hilarious Adventure Of David And Susan In “Bringing Up Baby” Critical Thinking Examples

The American comedy “Bringing up Baby” was shot in 1938 by Howard Hawks, a famous director of the classic Hollywood Era. Starring Katharine Hepburn, the film reveals the actress’s comedian talent to live the part of a harum-scarum rich woman. The screenplay is based on a short story by Hagar Wilde published in “Collier's Weekly” magazine in 1937. The script was written right for Katharine Hepburn but the film was not successful after the release – its popularity would grow only in 1950’s when shown on television.
Today, “Bringing up Baby” is on the list of the greatest American films of all time, and even the contemporary audience finds it wonderful and funny. The story full of side-splitting coincidences and romantic connotation leaves the spectator under the indelible impression and in good spirits. Basically, the film reflects upon the love at first sight and what it is capable of; it hints at the fact that one should live for the day and enjoy life – the best moments are the craziest moments even if foolish ones. The union of a timid and cool-headed paleontologist with a wacky heiress of a million of dollars seems impossible to the audience at the beginning of the movie and appears to be beautiful in the end.
“Bringing up Baby” was released by RKO Radio Pictures but it would not be possible if the company were able to borrow Clark Gable, Franchot Tone and Spencer Tracy from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for the film Howard Hawks was planning to shoot – an adaptation of a poem by Rudyard Kipling "Gunga Din". Howard Hawks was lucky to read a story “Bringing up Baby” which made him laugh and immediately decided to make a movie out of it. Though the story changed a lot with the help of developing the characters and adding comedic elements, it remained a love story featuring a chase over a wild cat.
Being a big fan of classic cinema, I cannot but admire the continuity of the storyline and numerous symbolic elements. The song “I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby” is spread throughout the movie because it is the only way to make the leopard follow the order. The popular song had a magic influence on the beast, contained its name and was at the same time the point of contact of David and Susan. The song in this movie is very special to me.
What impressed me a lot in the movie is a charming tame leopard Baby. Every scene with the animal made me wonder how the actors behaved so natural around a dangerous animal though trained. When Baby chafed on Susan’s leg just like a home cat, I could not but think that she can bite her leg as well any second. It turns out that Katharine Hepburn was unafraid of Nissa (the real name of the leopard playing both Baby and the circus leopard) unlike her partner Cary Grant who was terrified with the animal.
The film is very dynamic and full of dialogues. The characters talk over each other and very often speak simultaneously. David’s sarcasm and Susan’s naivety contributed to the dialogues worth quoting. To me, Susan is a center of the narration and it is her that sets pace. The fast pace of the movie made me glued to the screen and not notice more than hour and a half. “Bringing up Baby” is one of those movies I watched in one breath and with no pauses.
Special mention should be made of the costumes and the interiors. Most of the movie depicts Susan’s wealth, and I could not look up from her perfect outfits and the house. Though the film is black and white, the imagination draws the bright dresses and sparkling accessories. Susan looks fabulous whether she wears a dressing gown or a simple black coat when in prison, or being completely wet in the pond. As for the house, it did not seem luxurious to me but its spaciousness impressed me much. The vast surrounding grounds coincide with Susan’s nature, and the lack of luxury in abundance testifies of a good taste of the family.
“Bringing up Baby” is Hepburn’s and Grant’s second collaboration (there would be four total), and I think it is one of the most harmonious couples on the screen I have ever seen. The couple and their crazy relationships, as well as some elements of the storytelling reminded me of “The Lady Eve” by Preston Sturges though of course, the characters are opposite in the social statuses. But in general, both films are about a charming persistent lady driving crazy a serious boring man. I suppose the topic was rather popular among the comedies of those times.
I definitely enjoyed the film, and it is now on the list of my favorites. What I appreciate in movies of no matter what genres is their continuity. “Bringing up Baby” is an excellent example where the storytelling is on the same high level as acting and cinematography. Within the framework of the comedy genre, the film gets its goal to entertain the spectator, bring him the aesthetical enjoyment and deliver a good and kind message.
As it often happens in the world of cinema, the film’s financial disappointment is not a proof of the film’s quality. And this is exactly the case. “Bringing up Baby” is a fabulous result of the hard work of the production team ranging from the unknown electrician to the leopard Nissa. The film is significant in the context of the history of cinema and definitely worth watching.

Works Cited

MAST, GERALD. “Bringing Up Baby. Howard Hawks, director”. New Brunswick and London: Rutgers University Press (1988).