Sometimes the world is so serious, and you just need to laugh.
What’s Up, Doc, a 1972 screwball comedy directed by Peter Bogdanovich, is the tale of four identical plaid overnight bags and the humans that carry them into the Hotel Bristol in San Francisco. The film has a fantastic cast and many of the actors subsequently appeared in Mel Brooks comedies like Blazing Saddles. What’s Up, Doc? is Madeline Kahn‘s first appearance on the silver screen. Other notable appearances include John Hillerman (Higgins from television’s Magnum P.I.) and Sorrell Booke (Boss Hogg from television’s The Dukes of Hazard), and Austin Pendleton, whom I remember from the first Muppet Movie and Finding Nemo. Then, of course, is the starring cast – Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal, whose mother has a brief cameo at the end of the film. It’s endearing to see all of these actors in the early days of their fame.
Most of the action happens on floor 17 of the Hotel Bristol (actually, the Hilton San Francisco Union Square), where four identical overnight bags with women’s clothes, rocks, expensive jewels, and top-secret documents are mixed up. The movie crescendos with a car chase reminiscent of 1968’s Bullitt starring Steve McQueen. What unintentionally adds to the comedy is the cars visibly damaging the concrete of the Alta Plaza Park stairs. What’s Up, Doc? hit the theaters in March 1972, just three months after Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry, also set in San Francisco. No doubt the character Dirty Harry would have been parodied as well, if the filmmakers had enough time to realize his lasting cultural influence.
In March 1972, movie audiences needed a diversion from world events like the Vietnam War and IRA attacks in Ireland. What’s Up, Doc? provided a light-hearted escape in contrast to the more serious cultural event of The Godfather. Today, What’s Up Doc is a 90-minute diversion from the more serious matters currently on cable news channels. It’s rated “G”, so you can enjoy it with the entire family. The movie has lots of thoughtful directorial touches that I don’t want to spoil here, but it’s a great film with a wonderful director and cast. Be sure to check out some of the details on IMDB but wait until after you’ve first viewed the film.
- What’s Up, Doc? on IMDB
- What’s Up, Doc? on Wikipedia
- What’s Up, Doc? on YouTube
What’s Up, Doc? is currently streaming for free on YouTube, at least in the United States. Did you enjoy What’s Up Doc? Who would you cast in a modern remake? Share your thoughts in the comments.
