Can't believe I never saw this movie, but then again, it came out in 1972 when I was neck deep in political activism and a movie starring Ryan O'Neal would not have been calling to me, though I always dug Babra Streisand (who more or less started the trend of spelling your name in an untraditional but phonetic way)—or almost always—just for being the amazing musical innovator she was etc. and I always dug Peter Bogdonavich, who even when his movies didn't work they were such brave attempts to pay homage to the history of films (no coincidence his first and greatest was THE LAST PICTURE SHOW) you had to admire the attempt.
Anyway, I caught it tonight and was pleasantly surprised to find myself laughing out loud several times at the kind of slapstick humor that normally leaves me either cold or embarrassed for those performing it. Because WHAT'S UP DOC? is Bogdanovich's homage to the "screwball comedies" of the 1930s and '40s. And he manages to pull it off, while still making a film very much of its time (1972). All the performances, intentionally over the top, were delightful, including Madeline Kahn's debut and that of my late friend Stefan Gierasch.
If you've never seen it, do.
4 comments:
Totally agree. I haven't seen it for decades but it is a truly funny movie. Both Streisand and O'Neill showed a real talent for comedy which I never associated either of them with and they even had a kind of chemistry together which again I would not have thought likely.
Plus, the script was really good and i suspect Bogdonovich was the one who brought all these elements together.
well put K
Reading Pauline Kael's book about Citizen Kane made me want to see it again, since she vividly evokes the energy and moxie of the female stara of those 30s "screwball comedies." I remember liking it when I first saw it, and another one, "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" with Jane Fonda. Aram
I saw your post about Kael's Citizen Cane book Aram (and agreed with your take) but I remember not liking They Shoot Horses when it came out, because of the lead male, Michael Sarrazin (or however you spell it). Probably envious of him getting to be with Fonda. What's Up Doc demands a lot of suspension of belief. but once I surrendered it was a fun ride...
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