30 Years of Brilliance: 1930-1959
"Bringing Up Baby" was made in 1938, and it is a charming, genuinely funny, feel-good movie to watch. It was not well received on release, mainly because it was ahead of its time, but its amazing breakneck pace and disarmingly witty dialogue set new standards for all such comedies ever since.
There is a high level of energy in the film that was a requirement for a movie of this genre and there is no doubt that both Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant were on top form. Their pairing paid off handsomely and the result - a comedy classic.
In 1990, Bringing Up Baby was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It also consistently ranks on the Internet Movie Database's list of top 250 films.
She becomes responsible for Baby, a tame leopard shipped to her New York apartment and intended for her aunt. The plot thickens when George the Terrier steals the priceless bone and buries it, Baby escapes, and an untamed leopard escapes from a circus convoy (resulting in a twist on the mistaken identity ploy).
The movie is romantic for all its speed and the relationship between Grant and Hepburn becomes a flirtation which transfixes the audience. They are a match made in movie heaven, both on top form and in sync with each other throughout.
Cary Grant - Dr.David Huxley
At the age of 16 he moved from his birthplace in Bristol, England to join a troupe of knockabout comedians touring America. He stayed there, changed his name from Archibald Leach and became one of the world's greatest stars. He combined charm, charisma and good looks into a unique and universally appealing screen personality. Married five times, Grant had a daughter, Jennifer, in 1966 by his fourth wife, actress Dyan Cannon, whereupon he retired from the filmmaking to become a full-time father. During the 1980s, Grant toured the United States with a one-man show entitled "An Evening with Cary Grant" and was in Davenport, Iowa when he suffered a stroke and died on November 29, 1986.
Katharine Hepburn - Susan Vance
Born in 1907, Katharine Hepburn has proven to be the most monumental and enduring of all Hollywood stars. Her career as a leading lady spanned seven decades, over fifty quality films ranging from screwball comedies to high drama, a record twelve Oscar nominations and four Oscar wins, including three after the age of 58.
One of the first stars to take control of her career while still working within the confines of the studio system, she was able to work closely with the likes of Cary Grant, Spencer Tracy and director George Cukor. She died at the age of 96 at her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Charles Ruggles - Maj. Horace Applegate (as Charlie Ruggles)
