What's Up, Doc? (1972)

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

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers:

Buck Henry (screenplay), David Newman (screenplay)

Stars:

Barbra Streisand, Ryan O'Neal, Madeline Kahn

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Barbra Streisand	...	Judy Maxwell
Ryan O'Neal	...	Howard Bannister
Madeline Kahn	...	Eunice Burns
Kenneth Mars	...	Hugh Simon
Austin Pendleton	...	Frederick Larrabee
Michael Murphy	...	Mr. Smith
Philip Roth	...	Mr. Jones (as Phil Roth)
Sorrell Booke	...	Harry
Stefan Gierasch	...	Fritz
Mabel Albertson	...	Mrs. Van Hoskins
Liam Dunn	...	Judge Maxwell
John Hillerman	...	Hotel Manager
George Morfogen	...	Headwaiter
Graham Jarvis	...	Bailiff
Randy Quaid	...	Professor Hosquith

Storyline

Two researchers have come to San Francisco to compete for a research grant in Music. One seems a bit distracted, and that was before he meets her. A strange woman seems to have devoted her life to confusing and embarassing him. At the same time a woman has her jewels stolen and a government whistle blower arrives with his stolen top secret papers. All, of course have the same style and color overnight bag.

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | neo screwball comedy | punctuation in title | eating carrot | 17th floor | 

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Taglines:

A screwball comedy. Remember them?

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 March 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Glimpse of Tiger

Filming Locations:

1000 Bush St. San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$66,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$66,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Saticoy Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liam Dunn was primarily a casting director before Peter Bogdanovich offered him the role of Judge Maxwell.

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Goofs

When Mr Jones jumps off the balcony in the last party scene, he has golf clubs over his shoulder. When he lands on the thug's back the golf clubs have disappeared.

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Quotes

Eunice: Well come in, I'll do your tie.
Howard: What tie is that Eunice?
Eunice: Your tie. The tie in your hand.

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Connections

Referenced in Documentary Now!: Mr. Runner Up: My Life as an Oscar Bridesmaid, Part 1 (2016)

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Soundtracks

You're the Top
by Cole Porter
Performed by Barbra Streisand (uncredited) and Ryan O'Neal (uncredited)

User Reviews

That's a person named Eunice?

What's Up Doc is one of six movies I use to offset ANY bad mood. I have seen it countless times and still can't keep the suitcases straight.

This film is full of visual humor and one liners; Madeline Kahn screaming and taking on all comers while dragging the doorkeeper across the ballroom floor; the hotel crook using his "charm" to drop Mrs. Van Hoskins in her tracks; Eunice hiding in the bathroom because snakes "live in deathly fear of tile"; the promise of Howard conducting an avalanche in A Flat.

My only regret about this movie is that it began endless failed efforts by television and movie makers to replicate the chase through San Francisco. No one has. That sequence is the best example of humor, timing, backdrop, and action, of the chase genre. It has never been equalled by either serious or comedic directors.

Little mentioned in these reviews are Kenneth Mars and Austin Pendelton, two fantastic character actors who are the emeralds surrounding the diamonds of Streisand and O'Neal in the glorious setting of this jewel.

Thank goodness no one in What's Up Doc knows the meaning of the word "propriety!".