SUSANNA!

Cinemavixion Review

Howard Hawks' 1938 screwball comedy 'Susanna!' (Bringing Up Baby in its original title) is a masterclass in chaotic charm. Katharine Hepburn delivers a tour-de-force performance as the delightfully scatterbrained heiress Susan Vance, whose pursuit of a dinosaur bone and a paleontologist (a perfectly flustered Cary Grant) forms the core of the film's frenetic energy. The plot, while secondary to the sheer comedic mayhem, involves a convoluted scheme to secure a museum donation, constantly derailed by Susan's unpredictable actions and her pet leopard, Baby. Hepburn and Grant share an electric, rapid-fire chemistry that fuels the film's rapid-fire dialogue and escalating absurdity. Despite its initial lukewarm reception, 'Susanna!' has since been recognized as a pinnacle of the screwball genre, celebrated for its anarchic spirit and the unforgettable performances of its leads. It's a film that revels in its own delightful madness, offering a timeless comedic experience.