Bringing Up Baby (1938), dir. Howard Hawks
Bristol Megascreen at Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road,Bristol UK, BS1 5TT
Saturday 30 November, 19:00 (GMT)

Rating: PG
Running Time: 1hr, 42min, plus intro

Tickets: £8.50 / £5 Concessions, plus 10% booking fee

 

 

Prepare for a night of cinematic adventure and musical delight! We’re screening the iconic screwball comedy, Bringing Up Baby, preceded by a live performance by the talented Keep it Vocal choirs, featuring songs from Cary Grant’s life and work. With an introduction by Lies Lanckman (UWE Bristol).

Bringing Up Baby is, to me, the perfect screwball comedy – featuring a madcap heroine, a reluctant hero, an elusive dinosaur bone, not one but two separate leopards, a memorable dressing gown moment (wait for it!) – and a whole lot of delightful chaos. (Lies Lanckman)

Watch as Hepburn’s frivolous heiress, Susan Vance, and her pet leopard, Baby, clash with Cary Grant’s bumbling palaeontologist, David Huxley. Filled with misunderstandings and sharp dialogue, Hepburn and Grant are irresistible as the capricious heiress and bewildered scientist. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable, and their witty banter will keep you entertained from start to finish.

Cary grant dr huxley
Bookish palaeontologist (Grant) is desperate to complete his Brontosaurus skeleton and secure a $1 million donation to his beloved museum.
Hepburn and baby
On the eve of his marriage to prim assistant Alice Swallow, Huxley winds up in a series of madcap adventures involving a scatter-brained heiress Susan Vance (Hepburn) and her tame pet leopard, the eponymous “Baby”.

Known for her fearless spirit and daring stunts, Hepburn brings her signature physical comedy to life in this hilarious romp. From pratfalls to daring leaps, Hepburn’s performance is a masterclass in slapstick, matched by Grant’s homage to Harold Lloyd. The film’s animal co-stars also steel the show with Asta playing the role of Susan’s Aunt’s dog George and Nissa the leopard starring as Baby – we’ll be exploring the evolving technical and ethical practices of working with animals in film and TV in a special panel on Animal Magic earlier in the afternoon, with Matthew Sweet in conversation with experts, Theo Jones and Michael Lawrence.

Grant and Hepburn
Susan falls for Huxley and does everything in her power to keep him from his wedding the next day.

The evening kicks off with Keep it Vocal choirs, directed by Anya Szreter, setting the mood with a captivating performance of classic show tunes inspired by Cary Grant’s life and work, including the film’s iconic theme song, “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby.” The performance will start at 7pm, with a twenty minute interval before the film starts at 19.50.

Annex - Grant, Cary (Bringing Up Baby)_10
When Baby goes missing and Susan’s Terrier George steals the final bone in Huxley’s Brontosaurus, they go in search of the priceless bone and the leopard, only to mistake Baby for another fierce leopard who has coincidentally escaped from a nearby travelling circus.

Trailer:

Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of laughter, music, and pure cinematic joy.

Tickets: £8.50 / £5 Concessions, plus 10% booking fee

 

 

 

Programme Notes

Contributors:

Lies Lanckman is Senior Lecturer in Film Studies at UWE Bristol. She is the co-founder of NoRMMA, the Network of Research: Movies, Magazines, Audiences, and editor of Stars, Fan Magazines and Audiences: Desire by Design (2022). Her research focuses primarily on stardom, fan magazines, historical audience studies and the career of Norma Shearer..
Anya Szreter, a multi-talented musician, brings years of experience as a choir director, opera singer, pianist, and music teacher. Having sung operatic leads and taught music at all levels, she now directs choirs in Bristol. Since 2018, she has established and leads three choirs – Nightingale Valley Community Choir, The Redcliffe Singers, and the auditioned Arnos Vocale – all performing regularly. Her passion for vocal technique ensures a joyful and enriching experience for singers, fostering a vibrant musical community. To join and for more information visit: www.keepitvocal.com.
Anya Szreter conducting Keep It Vocal Choirs at St Mary Redcliffe Church, screening of Night and Day (2023)

Keep it Vocal Programme Notes

 

Supported by:
Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.
Supported by Screen Research at UWE Bristol.

You might also be interested in:

OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION
WITH LIVE MUSIC FROM THE
RICHIE PARADISE TRIO		 PANEL: CARY IN MOTION
CELEBRATING CARY GRANT’S
PHYSICAL PROWESS		 PANEL: ANIMAL MAGIC!
PANEL DISCUSSION WITH MATTHEW SWEET,
MICHAEL LAWRENCE AND THEO JONES 

Celebrating Bristol’s recent designation as a UNESCO City of Film, in recognition of the city’s vibrant screen heritage, of which Cary Grant is one of our brightest stars.