What's Up, Doc?

1972

1h 34m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

428

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95 Images

Comedy

Romance

The accidental mix-up of four identical plaid overnight bags leads to a series of increasingly wild and wacky situations.

Directors

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers

Buck Henry(screenplay by)

David Newman(screenplay by)

Robert Benton(screenplay by)

Stars

Barbra Streisand

Ryan O'Neal

Madeline Kahn

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Top cast

Judy Maxwell

Howard Bannister

Eunice Burns

Hugh Simon

Frederick Larrabee

Mr. Smith

Mr. Jones

Harry

Fritz

Mrs. Van Hoskins

Judge Maxwell

Hotel Manager

Headwaiter

Bailiff

Professor Hosquith

Arresting Officer

Delivery Boy

Banquet Receptionist

Directors

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers

Buck Henry(screenplay by)

David Newman(screenplay by)

Robert Benton(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

I'm really not a fan of screwball humour, and after the first five minutes of this perfectly choreographed series of synchronised improbabilities, accompanied by a downright irritating characterisation of "Judy" by Barbra Streisand, I fully expected to hate this film. Once it's settled down, though, and Madeline Kahn gets to grips with her equally exasperating persona, I did really start to feel that geeky rock guy "Howard" (Ryan O'Neal) was completely out of his depth as these two women took hold of his life and made every effort to trash it. Right from the start, we know that there's a sub-plot involving a tartan holdall, well four of them, and with some underhand shenanigans going on to obtain one of those that must contain something secret we now have the ingredients for some slapstick chaos that provides one of the best "Wacky Races" style car chases through San Francisco with nobody safe! There's an engaging chemistry between Streisand and O'Neal and it does remind you that before she started obsessing about how people pronounce her surname, she had really good comedy timing to go with her belting voice. Though the denouement isn't exactly a shock, there are plenty of twists and turns en route to keep this entertaining romp quite watchable almost fifty years later and it showcases nicely the skills of O'Neal as a perfect foil, too.

Geronimo196702 Jan, 2025