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Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Charlie Ruggles, Barry Fitzgerald, May Robson ... see more see more... , Ward Bond , Walter Catlett , Fritz Feld , Leona Roberts , George Irving , Tala Birell , Asta the Dog , William Benedict , Billy Bevan , Stanley Blystone , Jack Carson , D'Arcy Corrigan , Edward Gargan , Jonathan Hale , Geraldine Hall , George Humbert , Frank Marlowe , Jeanne Martel , Nissa , Pat O'Malley , Frank M. Thomas , Pat West , John Kelly , Richard Lane , Buster Slaven , Ruth Alder , Judith Ford , Buck Mack , Vernon Walker , Virginia Walker , Charles Ruggles

Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant star in this inspired comedy about a madcap heiress with a pet leopard who meets an absent-minded paleontologist and unwittingly makes a fiasco of both their lives. Da... read more read more...vid Huxley (Grant) is the stuffy paleontologist who needs to finish an exhibit on dinosaurs and thus land a $1 million grant for his museum. At a golf outing with his potential benefactors, Huxley is spotted by Susan Vance (Hepburn) who decides that she must have the reserved scientist at all costs. She uses her pet leopard, Baby, to trick him into driving to her Connecticut home, where a dog wanders into Huxley's room and steals the vital last bone that he needs to complete his project. The real trouble begins when another leopard escapes from the local zoo and Baby is mistaken for it, leading Huxley and Susan into a series of harebrained and increasingly more insane schemes to save the cat from the authorities. Inevitably, the two end up in the local jail, where things get even more out of hand: Susan pretends to be the gun moll to David's diabolical, supposedly wanted criminal. Naturally, the mismatched pair falls in love through all the lunacy. Director Howard Hawks delivers a funny, fast-paced, and offbeat story, enlivened by animated performances from the two leads, in what has become a definitive screwball comedy. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

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89% liked it

37,093 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

39 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Howard Hawks

Release Date: February 18, 1938

Keywords: funniest

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DVD Release Date: March 1, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (2,439)

  • garyX
    June 15, 2011
    garyX
    An eccentric heiress takes a shine to a stuffy paleontologist and then inadvertently reduces his life to chaos in her attempt to keep him from marrying another woman. Considered a classic by most, Bringing Up Baby is one of those old school comedies that defines the term "screwba... read morell". It's essentially a farce involving a pet leopard who gets loose while the professor attempts to conceal his identity from a wealthy dowager while hunting for his missing bone that has been stolen by her pet dog and, well, you get the picture. It's really just a lot of falling over, running around and walking in and out of rooms while various onlookers are frightened by the big cat and no-one ever believing the unlikely explanations proffered for the various ridiculous situations. Cary Grant once more shows his talent for comedic timing but although I'm a big fan of Katharine Hepburn, here I just found her constant jabbering and trickery rather irritating. The "plot" is also just a series of absurd coincidences, which is fine if it's funny but it didn't really make me laugh. Comedy is a very personal thing and as I prefer the screwball comedies that rely on snappy dialogue rather than slapstick, this one didn't really do it for me. I'll take His Girl Friday over it any day.
  • ajv2688
    September 19, 2010
    ajv2688
    This movie is really funny, although it does get a little too silly in the middle, it gets back on track in the end. A must-see movie.
  • MeetMeinMontauk
    May 24, 2009
    MeetMeinMontauk
    Not the best Howard Hawks - Cary Grant film, but still very cute!
  • moonrivers
    March 6, 2009
    moonrivers
    "i caughn't give you anything but looove, baby!" long before i knew anything about androgeny (and i still don't know anything about it), these folks were stretching the boundaries of thought as to just who is it we really are before, and after, somebody else tells us who we reall... read morey are, and doing it with rapier sharp wit. man, how i wish these filmic creations were real and closefriends of mine!
  • sanjurosamurai
    December 2, 2008
    sanjurosamurai
    i must begin by stating that howard hawks is one of my favorite directors of all time and cary grant is growing on me more and more all the time, so while im not a big katherine hepburn fan i had high hopes for this comedy that is still considered among the greats of all time. t... read morehis was possibly the most headache inducing film i have ever seen. i literally felt pain in my head watching these "zaney" antics that were built on rediculous coincidences and confusing diologues that made me want to stop the film numerous times. the characters were dry and unlikeable and most of the sequences were uncomfortable to watch. it keeps itself from the worst of the worst by reputation and starpower, but one of the most frustrating and disappointing films i have ever seen.
  • jennifxu
    June 3, 2008
    jennifxu
    That song is CATCHY. Katherine Hepburn acts a little more wackadoo than her usual liberalized woman, but I love her all the same. Howard Hawks doesn't usually light my fire if you know what I mean, but this is sexy and hiliarious and the chemistry is pure sex despite the PG content.
  • SarahG1988
    May 17, 2008
    SarahG1988
    Director:Howard Hawks
    Released: 1938
    Stars: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, george Irving and Barry Fitzgerald
    Genre: Comedy, Family, Romance
    Country: USA

    ... read morejpg" target="_blank">Photobucket

    In this screwball comedy, heiress Susan is determined to catch a stuffy paleontologist and uses her pet leopard, Baby, to help get his attention. The elements of this farce include a yappy terrier who steals and buries an irreplaceable fossilized bone, a pompous big game hunter, a rich old aunt, a jealous fiancée, and a case of mistaken identity involving a second, and vicious, leopard

    Oddly I haven't gotton round to watching many films of the 1930's but I hope this is the start of me watching more in the future. I've also not seen a lot of Katharin Hepburn or Cary Grant. Now I feel I've seen more of them than I could have in 5 of their films. The brilliance of Brnging up Baby is the two leads and that's why I enjoyed it so much.

    I would imagine this is the start of me watching more comedies from the 30's and thirtees as I enjoyed this one so so much. Bringing Up Baby is now 70 years old and is a timeless classic. Argubably it's conisdered one of the great scre-ball comedies ever made and I agree with that 100%. The narrtive is still orginal 70 years on and not at one point did yu have some idea of what was coming. Even to today's standards the writing in this is superb indeed. the absurd situations make for an hilaious disp;ay of comedy which left me laughing and laughing. Haven't laughed like that in a film for a long while. the one liners and brilliant three way dialogue makes you sit up and laugh at a film which still feels fresh and vibrant 70 years on. Superb indeed.

    I also seem to be watching a far few film of Howard Hawks and this is no exception. The direction here is brillliant as the comic timing of both leads fits the bill perfectly. From Grant's geekish type look to Hepburns awkwardness around his character just makes for a perfect on screen couple. HA! It's still mkaes me laugh now especially in the scene where they hunt out David's dinosoaur bone. Love the awkrdnes in her voice and distinct sarcastic tone which makes me laugh...still.

    I highly recomend this one, hilaious film. Just don't be put off by the year it was made as believe me you will laugh and laugh.

    Comedy classic.....

    10/10

    *HIGHLY RECOMENDED
  • RCCLBC
    March 21, 2008
    RCCLBC
    Most people don't think at Katherine Hepburn as 'funny', but she and Cary Grant are hilarious in this film.
    On eof my foavorite comedies.
  • groaningbitch
    December 16, 2007
    groaningbitch
    one of the mighty classics from the versatile howard hawks, and this settles as the enormous base of screwball comedy gendre.

    the gender reversal between grant and hepburn is apparently figured as grant's tucked in a female silky nightgown then utters "because i just went gay ... read moreall of a sudden!" gayness then is still utilized as joy, but the pun is undeniably amusing. hepburn declares enough mettle of her female individuality since it's her susie who solicits grant as her love of life, after her strike of determination, she squeezes up every frivolously chidlike little scheme to keep grant over her palm, courting him without reservation. despite such strong assertion of her vigorous want, her character remains mischieviously likable without descending into a nymphomaniac, even she always intervenes in the conversation to interrupt you.

    even grant evidently plays a milder nerdy character whose awkwardness causes his own mishapping to get stuck with trouble-maker susie, but he evolves himself with his suaveness. as several times, hepburn's character sinks him into recurring irretrievable jams, his character still demonstrates great demeanors as a gentleman to tolerate hepburn in spite of his obvious imapatience. (who wouldn't be?ha) as a fashion critic comments on grant that the reason why he's so mysteriously attractive is: always women chase behind him, he rarely takes any active move, always gentily considerate enough to yield to the ladies that contributes to his ultimate status of lady's man, complimented with his gorgeous male beauty, who wouldn't fall for the charm of cary grant? huh?

    the episode of leopard creates a sense of absurdness in this particular gendre, and a uniquely applied plotline, refreshingly unusual but believable in the same time. it is laughably hilarious as the leopard is fond of listening "i can't give you anything but love"...and the sequence of chasing after puppy george in search of the dinosaur bone is also another ingenious comic touch.

    even under this prosperously arranged condition as everything goes topsytuvy, love could still occur and nourished....as she sabotages his four years of dinasour model, she wails "could you still love me"..then they embrace with through acceptance and mutual affections. simply cute, maybe a bit too cute.
  • danperry17
    May 9, 2007
    danperry17
    The plot is difficult to follow, and the ending is contrived, but it's too funny to really care.

View All Bringing Up Baby Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
April 2, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

There is little rhyme or reason to most of the action, but it's all highly palatable. Full Review

Dave Kehr
June 26, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Though it's almost impossible, try to sit back sometime and enjoy this 1938 Howard Hawks masterpiece not only for its gags, but for the grace of its construction, the assurance of its style, and the r... Full Review

Douglas Pratt
May 5, 2005
Douglas Pratt, Hollywood Reporter

The speedy, 102-minute film is a total delight, and the performances are so invigorating that it can withstand many multiple viewings without losing its sparks.

Frank S. Nugent
May 20, 2003
Frank S. Nugent, New York Times

If you've never been to the movies, Bringing Up Baby will be all new to you -- a zany-ridden product of the goofy farce school. But who hasn't been to the movies?

Sean Axmaker
August 21, 2011
Sean Axmaker, Parallax View

Bringing Up Baby's narrative and thematic directions have much in common with those of Shakespearean comedy. Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf
June 15, 2011
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York

A perfect example of why directors (and even us brilliant professional critics) can often be completely in the dark about what works. Full Review

Nell Minow
December 22, 2010
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

Classic screwball comedy stars Hepburn, Grant. Full Review

Gabe Leibowitz
September 19, 2010
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt

Grant plays the timid Dr. David Huxley with the proper restraint and tics. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
April 1, 2009
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Grant e Hepburn estabelecem uma ótima dinâmica e revelam um impecável timing cômico, mas nem mesmo o ritmo invejável da narrativa consegue ocultar o fato de que algumas de suas principais gags envelhe...

April 2, 2008
Film4

One of the highest high points of the entire screwball comedy genre, with its sharp script and wonderfully balanced leads. Full Review

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Facts

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    • David Huxley: Now it isn't that I don't like you, Susan, because, after all, in moments of quiet, I'm strangely drawn toward you, but - well, there haven't been any quiet moments.
    • Susan Vance: There *is* a leopard on your roof and it's my leopard and I have to get it and to get it I have to sing.
    • Aunt Elizabeth: But why are you wearing 'these' clothes?
    • David Huxley: Because I just went gay all of a sudden!
    • Aunt Elizabeth: Now see here young man, stop this nonsense. What are you doing?
    • David Huxley: [exasperated and wearing Susan's negligee] I'm standing in the middle of 42nd Street waiting for a bus!
    • David Huxley: But Susan, you can't climb in a man's bedroom window!
    • Susan Vance: I know, it's on the second floor!
    • Aunt Elizabeth: Well who are you?
    • David Huxley: I don't know. I'm not quite myself today.
    • Aunt Elizabeth: Well, you look perfectly idiotic in those clothes.
    • David Huxley: These aren't my clothes.
    • Aunt Elizabeth: Well, where are your clothes?
    • David Huxley: I've lost my clothes!
    • Aunt Elizabeth: But why are you wearing 'these' clothes?
    • David Huxley: Because I just went gay all of a sudden!
    • Aunt Elizabeth: Now see here young man, stop this nonsense. What are you doing?
    • David Huxley: I'll be with you in a minute, Mr. Peabody!
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Bringing Up Baby Trivia

  • in the movie 'Bringing Up Baby', starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, who or what is Baby?  Answer »
  • what elements unites these movies?? *Reservoir Dogs *The Talented Mr. Ripley *Gosford Park *Bringing Up Baby *The Man Who Never Was  Answer »
  • Who starred in 'Bringing Up Baby'?  Answer »
  • this movie cast included Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn  Answer »
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