Discussion Topic:
Cousins notes that the “feminization of comedy” is the most “unexpected” change to comedic films in the thirties. Women become the “subject and inspiration” for comedy. The classic “screwball comedy” featured a “battle of the sexes” in which the female lead “disrupted the story (and male characters) with delightful results. The films were “farcical in tone and performed at a very fast pace” (142). Bringing Up Baby may be the most frequently-referenced example of the genre because of Katherine Hepburn’s memorable portrayal of Susan.
With regard to the film’s director, Howard Hawks, Cousins notes that he was the master of diverse genres (gangster, screwball, Western) and a “romantic realist of the purest kind,” but there was some consistency in his characters across these diverse styles: “Hawk’s women are often tough; his men are sometimes humiliated during the course of his films; he repeats almost identical sparring dialogue” between his male/female leads (143).
Students seem to have diverse reactions to the character, Susan, in Bringing Up Baby. Her tactics appear to be manipulative and underhanded to some. Others enjoy her zany recklessness. One thing that you should keep in mind is this: If the audience did not occasionally share David’s perspective (who repeatedly wishes for Susan to “go away”), some of the humor would be lost. Susan’s appeal is also more apparent when you consider David’s alternative: Alice. His fiance is stable and practical in the extreme–placing the importance of David’s career above everything else. She even expresses her wish that they forgo a honeymoon so that David can focus on work. In the past, some students have noted that while the screwball comedy might have expanded opportunities for female actresses in Hollywood, it may have also perpetuated unflattering and polarizing stereotypes of femininity, which are reflected in the characters Susan and Alice.
For our discussion forum this week, I’d like you to consider the film from the perspective of a genre critic. Analyze the film as example or model of the “screwball comedy.” Regardless of how you feel about Susan, it’s clear that she is the comedic focus of the film, and David is the serious “straight arrow” character. If there is a “battle of the sexes” in this film, who is the winner–if there is a winner? Your first post should focus on a specific scene which reveals something about the dynamic between the two characters. Support your observations by describing details/dialogue which make that dynamic apparent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fowrDX2zA0