Bringing Up Baby (1938)

Posted on November 3, 2013 by 4 Star Films

In this mile-a-minute screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks, Cary Grant is forced to deal with Katharine Hepburn’s ditsy socialite character. A Paleontologist (Grant) has been trying to assemble a dinosaur but he is missing a bone. On top of that Huxley is about to enter into an unhappy marriage and he also must impress a museum donor. The next day he meets a socialite (Hepburn) by accident and through a mix up he finds himself being taken to her home in order to help take care of a tame leopard named Baby. In the following chaos a dog buries the bone needed for the dinosaur, visitors come, Baby runs away, a wild leopard is on the loose, and the free-spirited girl finds herself falling for “Mr. Bone.” To complicate matters, the pair wind up in jail trying to explain their story to a quirky constable. In the end everything works out and despite the craziness, Huxley realizes he cannot live without this girl. This may not be my favorite screwball comedy, but I would say it definitely is the zaniest and that stands for something.

4/5 Stars

Happy Birthday Katharine Hepburn

Posted on May 12, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Today I want to give a nod to Katharine Hepburn who was one of the great leading ladies of Hollywood. She was born on this day back in 1907 and her career spanned from the 1930s into the 80s. She had many memorable roles in films such as Bringing up Baby, The Philadelphia Story, The African Queen, and On Golden Pond. Over the years Hepburn also had many great collaborations with another legend, Spencer Tracy. Her recognizable voice and her roles as strong characters make her a mainstay of film. Out of her work, two of my favorites would probably be the African Queen (1951) and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967).

Adam’s Rib (1949)

Posted on May 12, 2013 by 4 Star Films

Starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as a married pair of lawyers on the opposite sides of a case, this film begins with a bang. A distraught wife followed her husband home to find him cheating and she shot a gun off. In the ensuing days she is being charged with assault and the case is getting major publicity. Adam Bonner is the district attorney put on the case believing the law must be upheld but much to his chagrin she chooses to represent the other side. Thus begins an uproarious battle of the sexes. The pair continually spar inside the courtroom then return to their normal lives at home. However, after some bad publicity they are pulled apart by the case and their marriage is in trouble. After the case is won by Amanda Bonner a seemingly angered Adam shows up with a gun. Hilarity ensues along with a fight, however importantly in the end the Bonners reunite. They realize they cannot live apart. As always Tracy and Hepburn are wonderful together and they have a good supporting cast behind them including Judy Holliday, Tom Ewell, and Jean Hagen.