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Bringing Up Baby

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Bringing Up Baby 1938 1h 42m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist

Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter

97% Tomatometer 75 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

Harried paleontologist David Huxley (Cary Grant) has to make a good impression on society matron Mrs. Random (May Robson), who is considering donating one million dollars to his museum. On the day before his wedding, Huxley meets Mrs. Random's high-spirited young niece, Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn), a madcap adventuress who immediately falls for the straitlaced scientist. The ever-growing chaos -- including a missing dinosaur bone and a pet leopard -- threatens to swallow him whole.

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Critics Consensus

With Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant at their effervescent best, Bringing Up Baby is a seamlessly assembled comedy with enduring appeal.

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Kat Sachs Chicago Reader 02/13/2025

It’s a wild ride, with Cary Grant as a paleontologist, Hepburn as a zany heiress—and a leopard, the baby of the film’s title. Does it necessarily make sense? No. Is it brilliant in spite of that? Indeed. Go to Full Review Otis Ferguson The New Republic 12/26/2023

I am happy to report that Bringing Up Baby is funny from the word go, that it has no other meaning to recommend it, nor therapeutic qualities, and that I wouldn’t swap it for practically any three things of the current season. Go to Full Review SMH Staff Sydney Morning Herald 07/26/2023

Unfortunately the narrative is too heavy with action. Movement and dialogue are so incessantly rapid that they occasionally become overwhelming. But the clean, fast fun of the film cannot be denied. Go to Full Review Chance Solem-Pfeifer Willamette Week Jun 3

Certain elements of Bringing Up Baby appear beamed directly out of 1930s screwball heaven. Go to Full Review Josh Mooney Movieline Apr 8

Director Howard Hawks maintains a dizzying, frenetic pace as the loopy story unfolds -- and what a story it is. Go to Full Review Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Mar 18

4/5

Bringing Up Baby keeps the innuendo firmly in the minds of the audience without recourse to crudity.... Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Melissa M @Lisey Jun 18 Susan a fast-talking, hyperactive, socialite. David a down to Earth, zoologist. There's 2 things David wants to marry Ms Alice swallow & a intercostal clavicle to finish his Brachiosaurus that he's been working on for 4 years. He's also hoping to get a million dollars for his museum. He winds up having a not so meet-Cute on a golf course with a spoiled socialite named Susan. That's when the shenanigans begin. As the story progresses. Susan tells him a wild tale about a tame leopard, that's a present from her brother Mark to her aunt Elizabeth. She's sweet talks David into taking her & baby to Connecticut. David goes along for the wild Ride especially when he hears Susan knows Mr Peabody & her aunt Elizabeth is the one considering donating the million dollars to the museum. Fun facts a tame leopard named Nissa was used in the film to play baby & the wild circus cat. Production of the movie was often delayed by Cary & Katherine laughing fits. This film is a fun family friendly film. See more Ted L @Teddy1953 Feb 15 An over-the-top timeless Screwball Comedy. Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn shine along with an outstanding supporting cast of oddball characters. An absolute must watch. See more Patrick S @PatrickStruik Dec 13 Hilarious screwball comedy. See more aya t @ayaueta Dec 8 Great over the top screwball comedy. Script written for kat hepburn's personality who plays wacky heiress. Cary grant as nerdy dr bones. 2nd out of 4 teamups for the actors. Asta the cute smart fox terrior from the thin man series as george who steals the very last brontosaurus bone that dr bones needs who has been putting together the skeleton for years. plus stressed over upcoming wedding the next da y with kat trying to stall. Bombed at box office 1938 disliked by critics. Finally made money re-released 40's. Reputation gained on tv 50's. Now considered greatest film ever with 97% rt score & 100 best in 100 years AFI. See more Patrick C @RT84374237 Nov 27 An odd one, this. I found myself continually thinking, "I bet I'd have enjoyed 'Bringing Up Baby' far more had I been an audience member in 1938." More often than not (the 'not' being Laurel and Hardy), comedies from decades past don't age well. Styles change, audiences change, tastes change. There is so much to love here - the talent on show, the sheer lunacy on display, the wittiness of much of the dialogue. But even though it has a relatively short running time, the action is so fast paced and incessant that I felt drained by the end. How many mistaken identities, misread situations and farcical episodes can one take in 90-or-so minutes? I hesitate to be critical of the film as I can imagine it absolutely delighting cinema goers 87 years ago, but in 2025 I'd prefer the mania to be dialled down a notch or two. See more Jason R @J-Rush1411 Oct 6 a fun film to watch as we see the great chemistry bounce off both Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, a very good story and mishaps as Susan and David interact. one of my favorites from this era of film See more Read all reviews

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Howard Hawks

Director

Katharine Hepburn

Susan Vance

Cary Grant

Dr. David Huxley

Charlie Ruggles

Major Horace Applegate

May Robson

Aunt Elizabeth Random

Barry Fitzgerald

Mr. Gogarty

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Bringing Up Baby: Trailer 1 2:18 View more videos

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Synopsis Harried paleontologist David Huxley (Cary Grant) has to make a good impression on society matron Mrs. Random (May Robson), who is considering donating one million dollars to his museum. On the day before his wedding, Huxley meets Mrs. Random's high-spirited young niece, Susan Vance (Katharine Hepburn), a madcap adventuress who immediately falls for the straitlaced scientist. The ever-growing chaos -- including a missing dinosaur bone and a pet leopard -- threatens to swallow him whole.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: Hagar Wilde, Dudley Nichols, Hagar Wilde
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 18, 1938, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 1h 42m
Sound Mix: Mono

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