Bringing up Baby

The more I watch Katherine Hepburn the more I can't help but love her, even given the idiotic role she plays here. Again, as in her other Cary Grant pairing on the AFI list Philadelphia Story, she plays a rich, spoiled heiress, but in this film she is more naive than entitled, and bratty. It was fun to see Grant in a more goofy role as the nerdy hapless Dr. David Huxley as opposed to his usual suave roles. This movie depends on a bit of slapstick, but the pace moves along at a decent clip, though the plot is brainless.

The Africa Queen

There is something wonderful about formula of Katherine Hepburn as a middle aged, strait-laced, spinster being swept off her feet by an uncouth, drunk everyman played by [insert leading man]. It's a niche Hepburn played well, and her Rose Sayer doesn't disappoint, though I have to admit, I was puzzled by her ethnicity. She initially had an English accent, which she appeared to give up on five minutes into the film. It's also nice to see Boggie playing a rougher, less mysterious character than his more well known Sam Spade and Rick Blaine. The movie is a bit unrealistic, but it's a nice little bit of indulgent, sticking it to the Nazis. Parts can be slow, but overall the bantering between Hepburn and Bogart is a delight to watch.

The Philadelphia Story

I generally like Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart, and Cary Grant but I found them all grating in this story. Stewart relies a bit too much on his jovial, street smart persona and his mannerisms which might have been appropriate for the stage are excessive on screen. Hepburn lacks empathy and is not relate-able (even for a rich girl); I simply don't understand how all three male leads would fall in love with her. Cary Grant just seem smug. I find it odd that instead of having Hepburn's Samantha Lord chose the rich man over the self made man or the poor(ish) writer; the rich girl choosing the rich boy doesn't show particular depth on either of their parts and my guess is a return to alcoholism and philandering on both their parts within a few months of remarriage.