I'm suggesting this film now because my past two suggestions have been rather heavy and with rather sad, emotional endings. So, to prove to you that I don't need a major character to commit suicide or sink into madness to enjoy a film: I bring you one of my favorite comedies Bringing Up Baby. This film was expected to do well in theaters, but ended up with a really low box office performance. It's surprising because it is Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn at their best comedic game and is now considered a classic. Although, a lot of iconic films now didn't do well in theaters and a number that have performed to high box offices fade quickly from the collective conscience...
It's a fast-pace, screwball comedy and artfully plays Hepburn and Grant against their "type." Like many great comedies then and now, a lot of the story and characters was improvised on set and a collaboration between the cast and director (Howard Hawks). The story is rather difficult to sum up briefly, but basically is: paleontologist David has the misfortune of meeting insanity-in-heels-and-a-evening-dress Susan and gets roped into aiding her with her new pet leopard named Baby. What follows is a series of mishaps that just won't stop for David who is the only sane person in an insane movie. For all the slapstick silliness of the film, the dialogue is spot-on, clever, and quick. (Since this is a fashion blog: the film isn't about wardrobe or style, but the evening and day elegance of all the characters is inspiring; Katharine Hepburn dons an especially stunning, svelte number with a veil for an evening out.)
Fans of old movie animals will appreciate that the dog (George) in the film is the same that played Asta in The Thin Man series and played alongside Grant another time in The Awful Truth (lucky dog, eh?).
movie Bringing Up Baby, screenshots by me
CONVERSATION