What's Up, Doc?
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.30 You Save: $7.68 (51%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $6.25 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of What's Up, Doc?
Movie Review: Brilliant, Smart, Witty, & A Hilarious Screwball Farce Comedy!
Summary: 5 Stars
"What's Up, Doc?" is a farce screwball comedy from 1972, directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starring my favorite singer of all time Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, and Madeline Kahn (in her first film role). The movie was intended to pay homage to comparable motion pictures of the 1930s, such as "Bringing Up Baby", as well as the Bugs Bunny cartoons, which like this film, were made by Warner Bros. "What's Up, Doc?" was a huge hit in theaters, and became the third highest grossing film of 1972. The film came about as the result of a disastrous, aborted effort to film an adaptation of the black comedy novel "A Glimpse Of Tiger" by Herman Raucher, which was supposed to have starred Elliott Gould and Kim Darby in a story about an insane con man named Luther who befriends a runaway 19-year-old girl. Elliott Gould was cast as the con man, with Kim Darby as the girl. Production went on for a week before Elliott Gould and a group of his friends showed up on the set one day under the influence of LSD and threatened both the director and Kim. Elliott then disappeared, he would was found later hiding in a nearby hotel. The set was shut down, and it quickly became public knowledge that Warner Bros. was planning to file a breach of contract suit against Elliott Gould once police found him. In an effort to save her soon to be ex-husband, Barbra made a deal with Warner Bros., if the studio agreed not to take legal action against Gould, she would take his place in the film. (Due to the secretive nature of Barbra's talks with Warner Bros., accounts differ about what the payment terms would be. Some sources claim that Barbra agreed to only work for scale, while others say that she agreed to do it for free). Barbra met with Herman Raucher, and the two began working on altering the role of the Luther for a woman. Shortly thereafter, Peter Bogdanovich was brought on to direct. He decided that he didn't like the script, and began to make changes to it steadily, until it eventually became "What's Up, Doc?". These alterations effectively severed Herman from the production, causing all credit for his work up to that point to be stricken.
SPOILER WARNING:
The story, which takes place in San Francisco, centers on four identical plaid overnight bags and the people who own them. One of the bags belongs to Dr. Howard Bannister, Ph.D. (played by Ryan O'Neal) and is filled with his Igneous rocks that have certain musical properties. Howard, a musicologist, and his fiancée, Eunice Burns (Madeline Kahn), have come to San Francisco in the hope of winning a grant funded by Frederick Larrabee (Austin Pendleton). His rival for the grant is the dubiously-accented Simon (Kenneth Mars) who I get a kick out of everything he throws his hair back. The second bag belongs to Judy Maxwell (Barbra), and is filled with her clothes. No matter where Judy goes, trouble happens, from car crashes to hotel rooms catching on fire. She never finished college, but nevertheless has a unlimited amount of knowledge from all of the courses she took at the many institutions of higher learning from which she was expelled from. The third bag belongs to Mrs. Van Hoskins (Mabel Albertson), a wealthy woman who is using it to store her Diamonds and other types of jewels too. The fourth and last overnight bag belongs to the mysterious "Mr. Smith" (Michael Murphy) and contains top-secret government papers. The equally mysterious "Mr. Jones" (Philip Roth) is trying to get hold of them through out the whole film, but does not succeed like the people with stealing the jewels. O.K so Howard, Eunice, Judy, Ms. Van Hoskins, and Mr. Smith all happen to check into the same place, "Hotel Bristol" at the same time, whereupon Judy begins pursuing Howard, two hotel employees (Sorrell Booke and Stefan Gierasch) attempt to rob Mrs. Van Hoskins, and Mr. Jones attempts to rob Mr. Smith. Over the course of the evening, the four parties mistakenly take one another's suitcases, setting up a farce & hilarious madcap chase around the city the following morning--through Chinatown, down Lombard Street, & etc too. All the protagonists finally end up in court, presided over by a world-weary judge (Liam Dunn) who turns out to be Judy's estranged father. They you have it hilarious!, I love it so, seeing Barbra & Ryan together, making movie magic and seeing Barbra so down to Earth and great!.
Movie Review: DOC Delights
Summary: 5 Stars
I love DVDs. Inevitably, whenever I watch a film that I have not seen in a few years, it ends up looking gorgeous on DVD. The clarity and colors in the DOC DVD are such an improvement over the VHS tape, which, in retrospect, seemed faded and unclear. While watching DOC, I immediately noticed that the Hotel Bristol's hallways have a blue and yellow color scheme as well as that tacky blue wallpaper from the 70's that everyone had in their bathrooms! Barbra and Ryan O'Neal look tan and gorgeous (Barbra's blue eyes are astounding!). WHAT'S UP DOC?, despite being 30 years old, looks very good in its DVD reincarnation. The sound is mono, as it was in 1972.DOC proves to be an entertaining comedy after all these years, too. I still laugh out loud at this film. The dialogue by Buck Henry is so witty, with fast quips and word-play. Streisand fans can usually quote their favorite line from WHAT'S UP DOC?. Mine is this exchange between Barbra's character, Judy, and the villain of the piece, Hugh Simon (played by the brilliant Ken Mars):
Judy: Did anyone ever tell you that you were very, very sexy?
Hugh: Well, actually, no.
Judy: They never will.
Several details jumped out at me when I watched DOC tonight. First, Bogdanovich used the hotel elevator like a kind of 1930's jukebox. Every time the elevator doors opened, a 30's song (with "Muzak" orchestration) is playing -- very funny! Second, Barbra and Ryan do so many of their own stunts in this film. I was quite worried for Ryan during the chase scene when he jumped on top of the pizza delivery bicycle -- today the movie insurance people would probably demand a stunt double! Also, Madeline Kahn was so good. DOC was her first movie, and she was a funny, quirky presence in it. Madeline Kahn can go to comedy heaven on her hilarious whimpers in this movie. Her character, Eunice ("Eunice? That's a person named Eunice?") was dogmatic and cowardly all at once. She's brilliant, and it's sad she left us so soon.
Streisand has her own "scene specific" commentary as an audio bonus on the WHAT'S UP DOC disc. What this means is that there is a special menu option for the Streisand commentary. When you select it, the DVD plays about four scenes from DOC with Barbra's comments on the audio track. The commentary plays straight through and you do not have to do anything but listen to (and watch) the scenes being discussed. It's funny to hear Barbra's memories of the film. The commentary is very candid - Barbra obviously has not seen the film in a while; she forgets how the plate glass gag works, and is surprised when it happens. "That's funny," she keeps saying. Barbra sounds like she's eating sometimes (like during the Delilah interview - Barbra enjoys munching!). Barbra reveals some nice trivia: the pizza delivery boy is Ryan O'Neal's brother; the woman on the plane beside Barbra at the end is O'Neal's mother; Frank Marshall (now a famous Spielberg producer; he was assistant to the Producer on DOC) plays the man who tosses his shovel by the sand truck during the big chase. Barbra comments about her satin pantsuit (stretch satin!) and seems disappointed that her pink lip color does not register on home video (always interested in the details!). Bogdanovich's own commentary is interesting (although I have to admit I have not heard it all yet). He says that the eye-fluttering by Barbra after reading the "love means never having to say you're sorry" line was inspired by an old Lauren Bacall film.
WHAT'S UP DOC is a screwball comedy updated for a new generation of film-goers. Barbra's own strong personality and the age of feminism are nicely woven into the old-fashioned story. What's most important in DOC, of course, is that the characters speak in the fast, old-movie fashion. Their motivations are pure and comedic (i.e. get the bag! impress the benefactor! charm the guy!). Bogdanovich has studied his screwball comedies and directs DOC with a masterful hand. It is cinematic in the screwball tradition, yet fresh.
Movie Review: "Howww-aaa-rdd I'm Going to Start Co-uuu-nntting!!!!!!"
Summary: 5 Stars
When writing a review for a movie like "What's Up Doc?" I have to immediatly reach for a thesaurus to help come up with a vocablary list, that has the same meaning as words like 'hilarious' and 'wacky'. For Director, Peter Bogdanovich has created a side-splittingly, funny movie, that pays homage to the classic 'screwball' comedies ("Bringing Up Baby", "The Awful Truth", "All About Eve") of the thirties and fourties. In the film, we meet absent-minded, Dr.Howard Bannister (Ryan O'Neal), who has come to a San Fransico musicologist convention with his obnoxiously shrill, fiance', Eunice (Madeline Kahn) to compete for a $20,000 scientific grant. Unfortuntely he meets up with the sexy yet daffy, Judy Maxwell (Barbra Stiesand), who seems to be a 'force in nature', both knowingly and unknowingly able to create man (or women) made disasters, wherever she goes.The two get involved in a ridiculously complex plot, where identical tote bags containing jewels, top secret government plans, igneous rocks and women's underwear get switched and stolen by thieves, secret agents and various other parties. But you know what? The whole tote bag plot really dosn't matter. Its just a Mcguffin (or excuse) to get the leads together to spout the Marx Brothers-like dialogue and watch the ingenious car chases and slapstick disasters that befall the characters.Director Peter Bogdanovich has crafted a movie which almost brilliantly borders on being a live action, Warner Brothers cartoon. The film makes references to many past comic masters such as the Marx Brothers, Laurel & Hardy, Buster Keaton , Cary Grant and of course Bugs Bunny.The script (by Robert Benton, David Newman & Buck Henry) is well written containing razor sharp dialogue.There are so many great qouatable lines, that I wouldn't know where to start! The casting of this film is sheer perfection. Ryan O'Neal makes a great straight man to Barbra Streisand's crazy, comic persona. Streisand is at the height of her abilities playing a part, where she is both sexy, luminance and very funny. One moment she's cooing an old song standard in O'Neal's ear, the next moment she's smashing a pie in the face.Her charisma totally lights up on screen.The only actor, who just about upstages her is comic actress, Madeline Kahn. In this movie, she sets the standard for protraying, the most annoying and shrewish fiance' in film history. With her whining like phrasing she makes even the most innocent dialogue sound hilarious.With each script line, that comes out of her mouth, you just want to roll on the floor laughing. Kahn is pure comic perfection.Also, look for great comic character roles from actors, Kenneth Mars and Austin Pendleton. The DVD to this movie is wonderfully remastered with a good clear picture.Extras include a behind the scenes featurette, a very interesting trailer and scene specific commentary from Barbra, herself. Bogdanovich provides an excellent, feature length commentary, that is extremely interesting. For an evening of great screwball/slapstick comedy, I highly recommend this delightfully, wacky film!Movie Review: A gem of a film!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing "What's Up, Doc?" as a kid in a drive-in theatre and laughing uproariously. Later, as an adult, I bought the video and wore it out; the movie still hasn't lost it's charm. I've also introduced many of my friends to the film, but one consequence of that is that my tape is now faded and fuzzy. God bless whoever got this movie onto DVD!!If you've somehow missed this film ... stop reading, turn off your computer, go to the store and buy it. (Don't rent it; you'll want to watch it more than once.) I mean it. Go now!
I'm not a Streisand fan, but I sure make an exception in this film. She's fantastic! Her zany energy just pours off the screen, her timing and delivery are top notch, and her chemistry with Ryan O'Neal is simply unbelievable. And O'Neal ... is awesome. You might not think of him as an actor who could so ably take on the role of the boring, distracted, absent-minded professor, but man! he owns the role. From his opening shot straight through to the end of the film, he's simply wonderful. And if Streisand's cheerful nuttiness and O'Neal's goofy, sweet seriousness aren't enough for you, there's the inimitable Madeline Kahn in her first role, owning every scene she's in ... 'til Liam Dunn shows up as the judge at the end, that is.
The dialogue sparkles; why aren't more people writing dialogue like this these days? There should be a law. The comedic timing is impeccable. The story is lunacy, but it's sold whole-heartedly ... and the lack of a score (other than Streisand's rendition of "You're the Top" to open and close the film, along with a brief snippet of "As Time Goes By" during the film) makes the whole thing seem almost believable, somehow.
This movie is a gem; I can watch it over and over. The DVD is crisp and clean, looking like it was filmed last week ... a rarity for some early '70's films. The sound quality is excellent; nuances that were lost on my video tape are restored here. Streisand's commentary is generally unilluminating, but Bogdanovich provides some wonderful thoughts and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. All in all, an excellent release.
One minor, tiny little flaw: at the very end of the film, with Howard and Judy on the plane, my VHS version shows Judy batting her eyes, then a cut to Howard ... a cut back to Judy for a lovely pregnant pause ... and finally the return to Howard, who delivers his deadly comeback. The timing on that, as with the rest of the movie, is perfection. But in my DVD, Judy batts her eyes, and we cut to Howard ... who delivers his line after only a short pause. There's a missing bit there in the middle. YES, it's a terribly minor quibble ... but when you monkey with a classic and throw off the comedic timing, a guy has to wonder who would do such a thing.
That's really my only quibble. 5 stars anyway. (Have you bought this DVD yet?! Get going!!)
Movie Review: Don't You Dare Strike That Brave, Unbalanced Woman!
Summary: 5 Stars
Barbra Streisand disliked the script, didn't want to make the film, and even gave press interviews predicting WHAT'S UP DOC? would be a major flop. Instead it became one of her most fondly remembered performances, a film in which she plays a disaster-prone college student who somehow manages to run afoul of everything from jewel thieves to secret agents.
The film is director Peter Bogdanovic's homage to the classic screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s, and like most films of that genre the plot largely defies description. Professor Howard Bannister (Ryan O'Neal) and his fiancee Eunice (Madeline Kahn) are attending a San Francisco convention at which Howard hopes to receive a major grant--but when college student Judy Maxwell (Streisand) bumps into him she is immediately smitten, and her outrageous efforts to insert herself into his life results in car crashes, dining disasters, and a close enounter with a Chinese dragon.
The cast is absolutely flawless. Streisand's lunatic sense of comedy has never been better showcased than here, and while Ryan O'Neal is something of a flyweight talent he nails his role with tremendous charm. Then there is the supporting cast, which reads like a who's who of early 1970s comedy: Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendleton, Sorrell Brooke, Mabel Albertson (best recalled as Mrs. Stevens in the classic television series Bewitched), and Liam Dunn, to name but a few. And then there is the wonderful Madeline Kahn.
Kahn kicked around New York in various venues in the late 1960s and early 1970s, making one or two television appearances and at least one short film--but WHAT'S UP DOC? was her big screen debut, and boy was it a lulu. Eunice Burns is "that brave, unbalanced woman," and she screams, snarls, whimpers, faints, demands, mutters to herself, is kidnapped, fires off handguns, and suffers every indignity imaginable, and Kahn is so brilliant she steals every scene she's in. It was not only her debut, it was a break-out performance in every sense of the word, and it launched her to equally memorable roles in PAPER MOON, BLAZING SADDLES, and THE YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Sadly, Hollywood seldom made full use of Kahn's talents in later years--but to our good fortune these great performances remain to charm and beguile us.
Based on Bogdanovic's original story, the script is a memorable one, combining the rapier-wit of screwball comedy dialogue with the outrageous situations the genre demands, and if you can get through this one without screaming laughter you might want to have some one check your pulse, because you're probably dead. The DVD package is slight but pleasant, including commentaries by Streisand and Bogdanovic as well as a short documentary detailing the film's antecedents. A sure-fire way to cure the blues!
GFT, Amazon Reviewer