Bringing Up Baby

*Guide to accompany a lecture on the screwball comedy.

1. Just from the first 5 minutes, how do you know that Alice and David are not “meant to be together”?
2. When are Alice and David supposed to be married?
3. How does Alice perceive marriage? And David? How do the two describe the institution?
4. In what kind of world do these people live? What class are they? How do you know?
5. How is Susan introduced (think: mise-en-scene, shot distance)?
6. At what point do you realize that Susan and David will ultimately end up together? Why? What is happening to suggest this?
7. How self-confident is Susan of herself? And David? How do you know?
8. Who is Baby?
9. How does Susan manipulate David into her “harebrained schemes”?
10. How is physical comedy introduced in this film? Describe at least five scenes in which this is used.
11. During his time with Susan, how is David made to look idiotic, to be seen as metaphorically castrated?
12. How do the animals add to the screwball nature of the film?
13. How is “David’s bone” described during the film? How else is the word bone used in the film? What sexual innuendos can you make about this word and the way it is used?
14. How fast is the film paced? Dialogue? Actors’ movement? Scene changes?
15. How much bickering takes place in this film? Describe at least two conversations that you recall.
16. Sex is replaced by what in screwball films? Why?
17. How does Susan and David’s relationship end up? And David’s and Alice’s? Which couple do you think is better suited for each other, and why?