Directed by:
Peter BogdanovichCinematography:
László KovácsCast:
Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Madeline Kahn, Kenneth Mars, Austin Pendleton, Michael Murphy, Sorrell Booke, Graham Jarvis, Randy Quaid, M. Emmet Walsh (more)VOD (3)
Plots(1)
What's Up, Doc? joyously recaptures the bubbly style of 1930s screwball comedies - and firmly establishes Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal as a romantic duo uniquely endearing in screen history. Included are a daffy luggage mixup plot, dippy dialogue exchanges, a marvelous example of the art of hotel-room demolition and one of the funniest chase sequences ever, all over San Francisco. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (2)
Old-timey comedy based on Bogdanovich with Barbra Streisand in the style of screwball 1930s and 1940s combined with Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Swapping suitcases, a wrecked hotel room, a half-naked protagonist on a window ledge, a crazy chase, and a lawsuit at the end. Everything is familiar, has been seen many times, and it’s just reinterpreted in a 70s style with great exteriors highlighting the beauty of San Francisco. Loosely based on the novel "A Glimpse of Tiger" (1971) by Herman Raucher.
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Bogdanovich's 20 years younger Noises Off... is even more sophisticated and funny in my opinion, but to give What's Up, Doc? less than full stars would be unfair, given the laugh outbursts. The story is beautifully goofy, the swapping of suitcases so perfect that the next time I watch it, I'll have to make notes on a piece of paper to know who actually wants which one and whose is where. Interestingly, what I enjoyed far more than Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal was the amazing panopticon of supporting characters - from the poor guy dragging a bag of golf clubs to the hotel manager to the man carrying the glass and the amazing judge. The DVD also features the oft-mentioned dubbing with Viktor Preiss and Taťjana Medvecká.
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